BBC to ban single-use plastic

THE BBC will ban single-use plastic from its operations by 2020, in the wake of its landmark series Blue Planet II which highlighted plastic pollution in the oceans.

Plastic cups and cutlery will be removed across BBC sites by the end of 2018, ending the use of around two million plastic cups used by visitors and staff each year, the corporation said.

There are plans to remove plastic containers from canteens by 2019, starting with a pilot in Salford this month, where a coffee cup recycling scheme will also be trialled.

Tony Hall, BBC director general, said: “Like millions of people watching Blue Planet II, I was shocked to see the avoidable waste and harm created by single-use plastic. We all need to do our bit to tackle this problem, and I want the BBC to lead the way.”