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HeadlineLondon environmentalists say ‘more can be done’ to reduce plastic waste

Short HeadlineEnvironmentalists call for Thames plastic action

StandfirstGreen groups welcome the ban on single-use plastic from 2020, but they say further legislation is needed.

London’s environmentalists have welcomed the ban on single-use plastic items, but have said more still needs to be done.

The government announced a ban on the sale of items such as plastic straws from next year. Environmentalists working in the capital say it’s largely a positive step.

David Bloxsom, an Environmental Consultant at Xodus Group said, “ultimately this is a step in the right direction. But there is still a lot more that can be done.

“We need producers and the private sector to take responsibility for the plastic pollution that are caused by their projects.

“This could be plastic bags or packets. Further legislation is needed to cut back on the use of needless single-use plastic that we are seeing at the moment.”

Plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers and plastic cotton bonds will all be banned from sale from England in April 2020, in a bid to reduce ocean pollution.

Paul Hyman founded In the Drink, a not-for-profit organisation helping bars and boat operators located on London waterways to move towards alternatives to single-use plastic. He is also the director of Active360, which runs Paddle and Pick campaigns to pick up waste on the Thames.

Mr Hyman told City News London is a long way off solving the plastic problem.

“The amount of plastic waste we see in the Thames is truly awful…. we pick up bags of waste each day.

“This ban is a great initiative. It will hopefully mean we see a big impact on the wildlife and water quality in the Thames. There is still so much which can be done, including banning plastic cups from outside venues.”