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<p>We are making progress to address this concerning issue. In December 2018, the
UK Government published its Resources and Waste Strategy. This sets out how we will
achieve a circular economy for plastic and achieve our ambition to eliminate all avoidable
plastic waste by 2042. Our goal is to maximise resource efficiency and minimise waste
(including plastic) - by following the principles of the waste hierarchy: Reduce,
Reuse, Recycle – to keep plastic in circulation for longer. We will do this by making
producers more responsible for the plastic they make with our incoming Collection
and Packaging Reforms.</p><p> </p><p>Single-use plastics are a particularly problematic
type of plastic that makes up much of our waste. To get us closer to our ambition
to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042, we have introduced bans on the supply
of many unnecessary single-use plastic items. We implemented one of the world’s toughest
bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products and brought in measures to
restrict the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed
cotton buds in October 2020. The use of single-use carrier bags has been reduced in
the main supermarkets by over 98% with our five pence charge. In May 2021 we increased
the charge to 10 pence and extended it to all retailers to build on its success to
date and create a level playing field for all businesses. In October 2023 we introduced
a ban on the supply of single-use plastic plates, bowls, and trays to the end-user
and ban the supply of single-use plastic cutlery and single-use plastic balloon sticks
and expanded and extruded polystyrene food and drinks containers, including cups.
We will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and/ or materials
to take a systematic approach to reducing the use of unnecessary single-use plastic
products.</p><p> </p><p>We are preparing for the fourth round of negotiations in April,
to develop a new legally binding UN treaty to end plastic pollution. As a founding
member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, the UK is pushing
for an ambitious and effective UN Treaty to address the problem of plastic waste globally.</p>
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