Seven ways to reduce plastic waste

Theresa May has announced plans to ban the sale of plastic-stemmed cotton buds, straws and drinks stirrers in a bid to reduce plastic waste.

The Prime Minister is urging other Commonwealth leaders to follow suit, branding plastic waste “one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world”.

The move, which is subject to consultation, is part of the Government's programme to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042. Downing Street said that manufacturers would be given time to develop non-plastic alternatives, and that plastic straws used in medical industries would be exempt.

The UK alone throws away enough single-use plastics each year to fill the Royal Albert Hall 1,000 times over, according to May. Greenpeace estimates that 12.7 million tons of plastic - everything from plastic bottles and bags to microbeads - ends up in the world's oceans every year.

So what can we do as individuals to minimise plastic waste?

Remember your Bag for Life

The number of single-use plastic bags used by shoppers in England dropped by 85% in the first six months following the introduction of the 5p charge, in October 2015. However, large retailers in England still sold 2.1 billion single-use plastic carrier bags during the year from 7 April 2016, according to government data. Opt instead to carry your own reusable bags: cotton ones are said to be the best as they don’t contain plastics, unlike nylon and polyester bags.

Use a reusable water bottle

A million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute, according the The Guardian, and the number is expected to rise by another 20% over the next three years. Refill a reusable water bottle and there’ll be fewer bobbing about in the ocean. You could also go old school by getting your milk from a milkman. Most are happy to deliver your dairy in reusable glass bottles.

Bring a flask to your coffee shop

Disposable cups play a major role in plastic waste. While some paper coffee cups are marked as recyclable, their plastic lining means they often end up in landfill. Take a flask to your favourite cafe or coffee shop to avoid adding to the problem.

Use matches

Opt for matches over disposable plastic lighters, which sit in landfills for years and have been found in the stomachs of dead birds.

Carry your own cutlery

Avoid using disposable knives, forks and spoons when you’re eating on the go by bringing your own. You could keep silverware in your desk for lunch at work, and keep an eye out for biodegradable cutlery.

Use cloth nappies

Eco-friendly parents of young children can swap disposable nappies, which experts claim can take up to 500 years to break down, for the cloth variety. Admittedly, cloth nappies are not as convenient, but you will reduce your child’s carbon footprint and also save you money.

Grow your own fruit and veg

Packaging and transporting fruit and vegetables takes its toll on the environment. Growing your own cuts costs and means you don't have to worry about whether chemical fertilisers or pesticides have been used on your food. f you're not feeling green-fingered, seek out “zero-waste” shops where you can bring your own containers to take away fresh produce.