Mel Stride MP has welcomed the Government’s decision to spend £61.4m to tackle plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. Prime Minister Theresa May announced the plan last week ahead of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in London. £25m will fund research into the science and economics of marine plastic pollution and £20m will be spent on reducing plastic pollution generated by manufacturing in developing countries. £16.4m will be devoted to improving waste management in the UK to reduce the amount of plastic that enters the oceans through rivers. Mr Stride also backed the Government’s intention to ban the sale of plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds, subject to a consultation on the issue.
Mel, who has campaigned for more action on plastic recycling and lobbied Environment Secretary Michael Gove on the issue when the minister visited Chagford last year, said:
“Governments around the world need to do more to tackle the scourge of plastic pollution which kills an estimated 100 million marine animals each year. Within the UK we have banned harmful microbeads, cut use of plastic carrier bags by 83% through the 5p charge and have recently announced a 20p plastic bottle deposit return scheme to target the three billion plastic drink bottles that are bought but not recycled each year in the UK. But more needs to be done and tackling the 8.5 billion plastic straws that are thrown away every year in the UK is essential, as is helping countries around the world that do not have effective waste management and recycling systems in place. The investment announced by the Prime Minister is an important step in the right direction.”
