After delays from COVID – the ban on single-use cotton buds and plastic straws have finally come into place. Emily Weatherill reports.
The government’s Department for Food, the Environment, and Rural Affairs (Defra) passed the rule back in May 2019 with a deadline for the ban originally set for April 2020 – however, plans were delayed due to the pandemic.
From 1st October businesses will not be able to sell or give out plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds. But plastic stirrers are the only item with a complete ban.
Hospitals, bars, restaurants, and cafes will still be able to give plastic straws for people with disabilities or other medical needs.
Currently, there are approximately five billion plastic straws thrown away each year, so the ban will make a huge difference to the effects on the environment.
Many companies have already started the switch to paper, or biodegradable products. But if you’re not a fan of paper, you can purchase your own metal straws which you can wash and re-use, which is even more sustainable.
Defra were also responsible for the 5p charge on plastic carrier bags, which has managed to cut sales by 95%.
The UK is currently a world leader in this global effort to save the environment. However, the government may have to come up with new efforts to help reduce the damage of single-use PPE. The disposable masks are affecting wildlife, with the RSPCA receiving a large number of calls to rescue animals tangled in the fabric.
