Ban on plastic straws

[Daisy]

As from today it will be illegal to sell plastic straws, plastic stirrers and cotton buds in England.

Apparently we use about 4.7 billion straws a year, 316 million stirrers and a staggering 1.8 billion cotton buds with plastic stems.

They are such small items in themselves but I suppose in those quantities they contribute to the awful plastic pollution we see everywhere.

[Gemini]

I think this is a good idea Daisy.

For too long we have all been lectured about single use plastic, as if it is our responsibility to solve this problem. Of course we all have our part to play, but alternatives to these items, such as straws and cotton buds, should be made easy for us to find.

[Daisy]

I agree, Gem. We don't have much choice if there are only plastic items, but if there's a choice I will always choose the non-plastic one, or unwrapped items.

[Oma]

We have Paper straws but dont really use them now the children have grown but i still keep a packet ,
Never been a fan of cotton buds but i do have some i have had a very long time , hate when anyone digs one in their ears , B is a B****r for that so i hide them
I wonder what they will do about Dental floss sticks ? we do use them everyday

[Fairyqueen]

This is good news. We use stainless steel straws and they are brilliant. Not used plastic for years.

[Plantaholic]

Don's buy straws, I thought cotton buds had cardboard type ends.

[Nanto2girls]

I knew this was becoming law,but didn't know when.
Straws i havent bought for years. Don't think we've got any cotton buds left either.

[Daisy]

FQ - I've never heard of stainless steel straws. We don't use straws, but I have got 4 of those plastic curly ones from when the GCs were younger. I've got a box of cotton buds from the days when supermarkets stuck price labels on their products! We only use them for craft or DIY things.

[WeeGranny]

They were still on sale in Dunelm yesterday. I must admit I did a double take when I saw them!

[Lizzie48]

I had those curly plastic things when the GD's were small, I did read that a lady fell whilst carrying a drink with a stainless steel straw in, it went straight through her eye and penetrated her brain. Sorry, cheerful this morning.

[Gemini]

Oh My God Lizzie!!!!
Ok, bamboo straws then!

[Oma]

Lizzie i read that too , a freak accident they say

We were in Lidl yesterday they still selling cotton buds , as is B&M

[Gemini]

I think they can still sell cotton buds, as long as the stem is carboard, as they all used to be. It is the ones with plastic stems which are the baddies, and now banned.

[Daisy]

Gem - you are quite right. I suppose it's the same with stirrers - wooden ones are ok, although when they start looking at being more careful with trees they will perhaps disappear completely.