Plastics: Seas and Oceans

(asked on 15th December 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help reduce rising levels of plastic in the oceans.


Answered by
Thérèse Coffey Portrait
Thérèse Coffey
This question was answered on 22nd December 2017

We are taking a series of steps to deal with ocean plastics, including our ban on microbeads. Microbeads used in rinse off products end up in the marine environment and damage the marine life. While some countries have opted to ban only those plastic particles added for exfoliating and cleansing purposes, our ban covers all microplastic particles in rinse-off personal care products. It is one of the toughest bans in the world. The ban on the manufacture of rinse-off personal care products containing microbeads will begin on the 9th of January 2018, and the ban on sale will follow six months later

From 2 October to 20 November an independent working group set up under the Litter Strategy for England held a call for evidence on measures to reduce littering of drinks containers and promote recycling. This included seeking evidence on the costs, benefits and impacts of deposit and reward and return schemes. The Working Group is due to provide advice to Ministers on potential incentives for drinks containers early in 2018. Any decisions on suitable measures to then take forward will rest with Ministers.

In the autumn Budget the Government also announced a call for evidence in 2018, seeking views on how taxing and charging the most environmentally damaging single use plastics could help reduce waste.

Since the introduction of the Single Use Carrier bag charge in October 2015, we have seen a drop of around 83% in the consumption of single-use carrier bags with the seven major retailers distributing around 9 billion fewer single-use plastic bags, compared with pre-charge levels. The charge has generated approximately £95 million from retailers towards good causes since it was introduced.

In addition, the Government is developing a renewed strategy on resources and waste that looks ahead at opportunities outside the EU. This will set out the detail of how we will meet the ambitions for resources and waste that are set out in the Clean Growth Strategy, Industrial Strategy and the forthcoming 25 Year Environment Plan.

Reticulating Splines