Now EU joins Mail’s drive to tackle waste plastic menace

NATIONS across Europe joined Britain and Theresa May last night to turn the tide on plastic.

The EU published a strategy to clamp down on throwaway plastic including bottles, straws, coffee cups and cutlery.

It mirrors the PM’s plan to banish avoidable plastic within 25 years. The fight gained momentum as Mrs May backed supermarket Iceland’s decision to stop using plastic packaging on own-label products within five years.

Her spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister said that this was a good start, but there was much more to do and we want others to now follow suit.’

In another boost for the Daily Mail’s Turn The Tide On Plastic campaign, the Cabinet threw its weight behind efforts to ditch throwaway coffee cups. Each minister was handed a reusable cup as they left Downing Street.

Last February, the Scottish Daily Mail launched the Banish the Bottles campaign for a 10p charge on bottle and cans, refundable when they are returned to shops for recycling.

Four months ago the Scottish Government committed itself to implementing a bottle deposit return scheme.

Comment – Page 16