England's Tsunami of Single Use Plastics

Single-use plastics are a major source of environmental pollution. A 12 week consultation has been announced with a view to banning single-use plastic plates, cutlery and polystyrene cups, as well as limiting wet wipes, tobacco filters and sachets in England (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/20/single-use-plastic-plates-and-cutlery-could-be-banned-in-england ). The intention seems to be to build on the relative successes of restricting the use of plastic bags, straws, cotton buds and stirrers in the UK. Plastic microbead additives to items like bodywash and shampoo were also successfully outlawed. 1.1 bn plastic plates are used annually in England. 4.25 bn items of single-use cutlery (most of it plastic) are also employed each year. Only 10% of this plastic is actually recycled. It would be a good idea to greatly limit all these plastic items (there are occassional situations where their use is valid). The consultation could, however, have also considered plastic drinks bottles which are dropped around our environments in enormous numbers. Others have suggested that sanitary product applicators should also be a focus (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/02/the-women-taking-the-plastic-out-of-periods), along with plastic flasks for single alcohol 'shots' as well as plastic beer/wine glasses.