11 January 2018•Update: 11 January 2018
By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal
LONDON
Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Thursday a 25-year environmental plan to dramatically reduce plastic waste.
In a speech at the London Wetland Centre, May promised to extend a 5 pence levy on plastic bags to smaller shops and hinted at similar new charges on single-use plastic containers used for takeaway food and drinks.
"In 2015, we introduced the 5 pence charge on plastic carrier bags, we now see 9 billion fewer bags being used," said the premier, who signalled the move last week.
"In years to come, I think people will be shocked at how today we allow so much plastic to be produced needlessly," she went on to say, adding that much of the plastic waste ended up in waterways and oceans.
"Today I can confirm that the U.K. will demonstrate global leadership. We must reduce the demand for plastic, reduce the number of plastics in circulation and improve our recycling rates."
Other initiatives include a plan to urge supermarkets to introduce aisles without any plastic packaging, where all food is sold loose, along with new research funding for "plastics innovation" and aid to help developing nations deal with their plastic waste.
"Britain has always been a world leader in understanding and protecting the natural world… And we have a responsibility to protect and enhance it," May said.
The premier underlined that single-use plastic waste was "ingested by dozens of species of marine animals and over 100 species of sea birds, causing immense suffering to individual creatures and degrading vital habitats".
"One million birds, and over 100,000 other sea mammals and turtles die every year from eating and getting tangled in plastic waste."
On Tuesday, the U.K. introduced a total ban on microbeads -- manufactured solid plastic particles used in various industries. Microbeads will no longer be used in cosmetics and personal care products, according to the ban.
Environment Minister Therese Coffey said the world’s oceans were "some of our most valuable natural assets," and she was determined "we act now to tackle the plastic that devastates our precious marine life".
"Now we have reached this important milestone, we will explore how we can build on our world-leading ban and tackle other forms of plastic waste," Coffey added.
However, green groups have reacted and said the proposals would have no legal force. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said 25 years was "far too long" to take action.
He said the "throw-away" culture had to be tackled "now".
