UK government to bring in new controls on plastic items

In a bid to limit ocean pollution, the government will introduce new controls on single use plastic items next year.

The measures cover plastic straws, plastic drinks stirrers and plastic cotton buds in England from April 2020. Only plastic drinks stirrers will be totally banned from sale - currently 316 million are used a year.

Environmental groups have praised the move but say the government needs to take far more decisive action.

According to the announcement, bars and restaurants will not be allowed to display plastic straws or automatically hand them out but they will be able to provide them if people ask. Continue