Get drastic with plastic
And here’s some ways you can cut back.. Lauren Taylor reports
SINGLE-USE plastics such as plates, cutlery and polystyrene cups look to be banned next as a public consultation is launched by the Government.
There are also further calls to limit wet wipes that contain plastic, tobacco filters and sachets.
The UK uses 2.5billion disposable coffee cups a year – and they are the fourth most littered item.
Additional charges could be placed on products which pollute the most, plastic within the items could be banned, and labelling telling consumers how to dispose of them could become mandatory.
It follows the ban on microbeads in rinse-off personal care items in 2018.
Jessica Hickie, programme manager for the Environment Agency’s plastics and sustainability team, said: “Around 12 million tonnes of plastic enters the environment each year – a bin lorry load every minute. Small actions will add up, so I’d urge you to look for one simple change you can make to reduce your reliance on avoidable plastic.”
Here, Jessica shares how to reduce your plastic use. Pick one, or a few, and go from there.
At home..
1 Baking your own bread can cut down on your use of soft plastics. Bread bags and other soft plastics such as crisp packets don’t often get collected by local authorities – but some supermarkets are now starting to offer this service. Find out if you can drop these items off at a store near you at recylenow.com/local-recycling. 2 Wet wipes contribute to 93 per cent of sewer blockages in the UK and end up polluting our beaches and riverbeds – switch to a cotton flannel which can be hygienically washed and reused. Even if a wipe says it is flushable, it is better for our marine environment if you place it in the bin instead. 3 Swap the endless plastic bottles in your bathroom for shampoo and conditioner soap bars, which are eco-friendly and plastic free - or refill options at your local zero waste shop. 4 If you have a floor mop which uses single use wipes, switch to one with reusable cotton pads. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Dumbarton is beautiful (@collectiveguid). 5 Try switching to toothbrushes made from bamboo (electric ones are available now too). 6 Ditch single use plastic razors for a reusable one. Some brands are offering a subscription (and recycling) service which can be delivered to your door. 7 Switch over to plastic-free menstrual products or go for a reusable mooncup.
Outside home..
8 Keep reusable cutlery in your bag (another use for those takeaway cartons!) or work desk so you do not have to use disposable ones. 9 Chewing gum is made from plastic and Britain is the second biggest global consumer – switch to plasticfree gum and always bin it. 10 Avoid plastic condiment sachets – if you have room in your bag, bring your own condiments in small, reusable, glass jars or plastic containers. 11 If you are eating in a canteen, either opt for a plate or bring your own reusable food containers for canteen staff to place food in. This can help eliminate the use of polystyrene takeaway boxes, not commonly recycled and harmful to the environment. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Miche & Loulou (@miche-et-loulou)
This Christmas..
12 Give experience gifts rather than physical ones. 13 If you want to bring some sparkle to festivities, use energy-efficient fairy lights, and reusable tealights in pretty jam jars, rather than glitter, which can be a harmful microplastic that pollutes our oceans. 14 Avoid plastic balloons and balloon sticks – instead make your own decorations such as bunting and paper chains from recyclable materials, or buy durable ones you will be able to reuse and store.
And finally..
15 Start a conversation with a friend or family member about plastic pollution. And find out if your local area has a “repairs cafe” so that you can make do and mend items.