A new report from the Rethink Plastic alliance in collaboration with the Break Free From Plastic movement says “important progress” has been made by the vast majority of EU countries in banning the most polluting single-use plastics compared to the UK.
As key environmental legislation on plastic pollution is implemented across the EU, environmental campaigners, City to Sea, have warned that England is falling behind the rest of Europe despite promises of a ‘Green Brexit’.
Despite Scotland and Wales joining other EU countries in adopting plans and legislation to ban the top 15 most polluting single-use plastics such as plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene food packaging, one year after the rules were adopted across Europe, England still has no draft legislation in place.
Campaigners say that England is now at risk of being the only country in Europe to not have a ban on these top polluting plastic items. The warning comes after a newly released annual assessment by the Rethink Plastic alliance and members of the Break Free From Plastic movement that details the progress of other EU countries.
We were promised a “Green Brexit” but have so far little to illustrate this.
City to Sea says that with Scotland implementing a ban this summer and Wales having now published its draft bill that comes before the Senedd in the coming months, England is falling behind even the worst offenders, which are dubbed “laggards” in the report. Italy for example, which is singled out in the report for failing to include bioplastics in its ban of these single-use plastic items have, at least, banned some of the most polluting conventional plastics.
City to Sea has “slammed” what it says is a lack of action from Defra in delivering on its promise to ban some of the most polluting single-use plastics – such as plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene food packaging all of which are covered in the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive. In February 2022, City to Sea partnered with Greenpeace and campaigners 38 Degrees to hand in a petition with over 117,000 signatures to Downing Street demanding a complete ban.
City to Sea says more than 50,000 of those who signed the petition also went on to respond to the Defra consultation, demanding that the most polluting single-use plastic items should be banned. The vast majority of respondents backed a ban on all the items being considered – such as cutlery, plates and polystyrene takeaway containers – with support at 96% or above across the board. 64% thought the government needed to introduce the ban without delay.
England desperately needs to catch up and get this important piece of legislation in place.
Policy Manager at City to Sea, Steve Hynd, said: “It’s frankly embarrassing that we’re having to, once again, point out that England is at risk of falling further behind the rest of Europe on key environmental standards post-Brexit.
“We were promised a “Green Brexit” but have so far little to illustrate this. Instead, all we have is delay and political instability leaving the markets uncertain about if and when this ban will occur.
“Their tardiness stands in contrast to the findings of today’s report that details how other European countries are progressing at phasing out the most polluting single-use items and in some cases like Sweden, Greece, Portugal and Ireland going much further. England desperately needs to catch up and get this important piece of legislation in place.
“Now is the time for the new Secretary of State, Ranil Jayawardena, to take this up personally and make sure it is delivered as his government has repeatedly promised.”