Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay has called today’s announcement by Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Gove, a ‘game changer in the fight against single use plastic’.
UK consumers go through an estimated 13 billion plastic drinks bottles a year, but more than three billion are incinerated, sent to landfill or left to pollute our streets, countryside and marine environment.
To tackle this blight, the government has confirmed it will introduce a deposit return scheme in England for single use drinks containers (whether plastic, glass or metal), subject to consultation later this year.
Commenting, Steve said:
“Today’s announcement is an amazing step forward in the push for more sustainable living, and is a game changer in the fight against single use plastic.”
“My sincerest congratulations to Surfers Against Sewage and other Cornish Groups who I am proud to have worked together with to highlight this issue and press the positive and sensible case for change.”
“Along with the plastic bag charge and micro bead ban, this is the latest great step forward for the environment from this Government.”
“I will be closely monitoring these plans as they come forward and look forward to their introduction later this year.”