Sampling Tsunami

From October 1st, the UK banned single use plastics but this was limited to plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds. 'A Plastic Planet' is a coalition of environmentalists and business folk who would like to go further. They have focused attention on yet another avoidable source of single use, plastic pollution (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/26/campaigners-call-for-uk-and-eu-bans-on-plastic-sample-sachets). A Plastic Planet estimate that 122bn single-use plastic sachets (and mini bottles?) are given out per year (in the UK or in the EU?), largely by the personal and home care industries. They are sometimes distributed for pure 'convenience' and at other times as marketing exercises to encourage people to buy the larger retailed versions. Sachets and mini bottles can contain hand wipes, vinegar, toothpaste, shampoo, brown sauce, ketchup etc, etc. The coalition would like these items also banned by both the UK and the EU, as such packaging is rarely recycled (they are often regarded as too small to bother with). Discarded sachets, tiny bottles and sample tubes, however, certainly add to plastic waste. I broadly support this idea but would caution that there are some medical and testing situations, where sachets are unavoidable (otherwise, possibilities of cross-infections exist). I think that, if the laws are changed, appropriate uses should be specified and arrangements made to collect and recycle the debris from such activities (rather than to simply dump it).