Amidst the maelstrom of news these past weeks, a few positive stories have slipped under the radar. One such story comes to us from Wales, where the Welsh government unveiled plans to ban single-use plastics in 2021.
Under the plans, straws, cotton buds, stirrers, balloon sticks, plates and cutlery, food and drink containers made of expanded polystyrene, and products made from oxo-degradable plastic will be banned. The Welsh government has stated that this initiative is part of a more comprehensive approach that the nation is taking to mitigate plastic pollution and shift towards a circular economy in order to meet its target of zero waste by 2050.Â
This isn’t Wales first foray to tackle plastic waste. The nation has long been a leader in recycling. Wales has the fourth-best recycling rate in the world, according to the European Environment Bureau. Wales was also the first country in the United Kingdom to introduce a levy on carrier bags.Â
