Yesterday (Wednesday 15 April) Defra confirmed that due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and subsequent disruption to businesses, our ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds is being delayed until October.
Our announcement received some media coverage today, including in the Daily Mail, Financial Times and Evening Standard.
The ban was originally due to come into force this month after secondary legislation was laid in Parliament in March, and there is a suggestion in some media coverage that the ban has been delayed due to lobbying from the plastics sector. This is incorrect – Ministers have decided to delay the ban because of the impact on businesses from the current coronavirus outbreak to avoid additional burdens for firms at this challenging time.
Many of the businesses which would be affected by the ban, such as pubs, restaurants and cafes, are currently closed because of social distancing rules.
A Defra spokesperson said:
Given the huge challenges posed to businesses by coronavirus, we have confirmed we will delay the introduction of our ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds until October 2020.
We remain absolutely committed to turning the tide on the widespread use of single-use plastics and the threat they pose to our natural environment. This ban is yet another measure to clamp down on unnecessary plastic so we can better protect our precious wildlife and leave our environment in a better state for future generations.
This government is committed to its ambition of eliminating all avoidable plastic waste over the lifetime of the 25 Year Environment Plan. Building on commitments made in the Resources and Waste Strategy, our Environment Bill will introduce new powers which will allow us to tackle plastic waste by: imposing charges on single-use plastic items; ensuring producers cover the full net costs of collecting and managing waste, including plastics; implementing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers; and introducing more consistent recycling services for households and businesses across England.
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2 comments
Comment by Louisa venables posted on
Nothing,I said nothing would make a business fail more than a government induced lock down. This maybe a slight blip in the financial money grabbing merry go round that we call human consumption. But now we must insist that we stop the plastic madness. It won't matter if we all die of coronavirus, if we emerge with plastic poisoning. What difference does it make what kills us, you can't choose one over the other, we must keep focused on the future of mankind
Comment by William Hughes-Games posted on
I feel we are missing a working solution to these and other waste streams. The default setting for any waste that can't be utilized more profitably elsewhere is Pyrolysis. Waste streams which can be utilized include used rubber tires, wood waste from mills and construction sites, all plastic whether dirty or contaminated, used engine oil, diapers from the young and old, clothing with no further use and on and on it goes.
https://mtkass.blogspot.com/2019/09/pyrolysis.html