Page 33 - Plastics News October 2020

Plastic straw ban comes into force in England Canada introduces ban on single-use plastics to
take effect by end of 2021
ban on plastic straws which was delayed due to
anadian Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson
Acoronavirus has come into force. Businesses in
Cannounced the government's proposal to ban
England will not be able to provide them to customers
single-use harmful plastics that will take effect by end
from Thursday - as well as plastic drinks stirrers and of 2021, in order to address plastic pollution and
cotton buds. The ban was due to be introduced in achieve Canada's goal of zero plastic waste by 2030.
April, but was put back six months due to the effect of The ban includes check-out bags, straws, stir sticks,
coronavirus on businesses. The Department for six-pack rings, cutlery and foodware made from hard-
to-recycle plastics, particularly expanded polystyrene.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said at the
The federal government is moving to fulfill a key
time the delay was to “avoid additional burdens for
promise to ban single-use plastics by the end of 2021.
“We are living in extraordinary times,” said
Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson as he
announced the plan to ban single-use plastic grocery
bags, stir sticks, six-pack rings, utensils, straws and
some food ware made of hard-to-recycle plastics. He
noted that the coronavirus pandemic and increased use
of plastics throughout it was among the considerations
made by the government in preparing the list of six
items to be banned, and that many of the items
targeted by the ban have readily available, affordable
firms at this challenging time”. Defra added many
places that would be affected by the ban - including
pubs and restaurants - were shut in April due to
lockdown measures. Now from 1 October, it will be
illegal for businesses to supply plastic straws, stirrers
and plastic-stemmed cotton buds to customers, with
exemptions in place to protect disabled people and
those with medical conditions who require plastic
straws. The UK government said it was the latest step
in the fight against single-use plastic waste to protect
the environment and oceans. An estimated 4.7 billion
plastic straws, 316 million plastic stirrers and 1.8 alternatives. “Canadians expect their governments to
be able to address the COVID issue and other challenges
billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds were used in
at the same time,” he said. Wilkinson said Canadians
England each year, officials said. Other nations in the
are only recycle roughly nine per cent of the plastics
UK have taken steps to reduce plastic use, with
used in the country each year and that while plastics
Scotland banning the sale of plastic cotton buds last can be useful, those being used must be recyclable.
year, and Wales announced plans to ban various single- “Plastics are very useful. We all use them,” he added.
use plastic items in March. George Eustice, the UK “We need to make sure we're not dumping them.” The
environmental secretary, said the government was move is one part of what Wilkinson described as a
“comprehensive plan” aimed at getting plastic
committed to tackle the issue of single-use plastic and
producers to take more responsibility for collecting and
its environmental impact.
recycling their products.

October 2020 33 Plastics News