The Herald

May heavily criticised for 25-year deadline to tackle plastic pollution

- MICHAEL SETTLE

NICOLA Sturgeon and Jeremy Corbyn have criticised the UK Government for a lack of urgency in tackling the scourge of plastic pollution.

The First Minister and Labour leader hit out at the 2042 deadline set by Theresa May for the eradicatio­n of all avoidable plastic waste in the UK.

Ms Sturgeon said the issue was more urgent than Mrs May’s 25-year timescale but came under fire for her own Government’s actions.

Green MSP Patrick Harvie raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions on the day the Scottish Government announced its intention to ban the sale of plasticste­mmed cotton buds.

He welcomed how both government­s were trying to respond to the growing concern about plastic pollution but noted: “The UK might be accused of kicking the issue into the long grass by talking about what it might achieve by 2042.”

Mr Harvie said the issue was far more challengin­g and urgent and argued the responsibi­lity should be placed “with the highly profitable businesses and industries which are the real source of the problem”. He urged Ms Sturgeon to tackle wider pollution caused by the petrochemi­cals industry.

In response, the FM agreed that this was an urgent issue; “more urgent than the 25-year timescale that the Prime Minister has set out today”.

She highlighte­d her Government’s action including the plastic bag levy, plans for a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and the expert group set up to look at other possible levies.

“We’re taking a range of actions and I do think that’s the right approach. It’s not about letting any particular interest off the hook, it’s about companies, consumers and government­s,” she said.

Mr Corbyn also insisted the UK Government’s 25-year plan was far too long. “The plastic culture has to be challenged, the throwaway society has to be challenged. The pollution in our rivers and seas by plastic waste is absolutely dreadful.

“We have to be much tougher on returning, if not eliminatin­g altogether where we can, the use of plastic but increase and improve recycling.”

He added: “Yes, take it on but 25 years? Do it now.”

It’s kicking the issue into the long grass

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