The UK pledges action to reduce plastic waste in the world's oceans - "to lead the world in environmental protection"

There is a huge amount of plastic in our oceans:
Futures Forum: Cotton buds, shotgun wads, plastic toys, and Lego washed up on a Cornish beach give "a shocking insight into the scale of global ocean plastic pollution"

And there have been all sorts campaigns to reduce it:
Futures Forum: #2minutebeachclean hits Sidmouth
Futures Forum: Litter Free Coast & Sea @ Lyme Regis: Tues 11th July
Futures Forum: The Plastic Challenge
Futures Forum: UN Ocean Conference >>> a 'game-changer' in cutting plastic pollution

The new Environment Secretary is determined to make his mark:
Futures Forum: Brexit: and paying farmers to make the countryside look beautiful
Futures Forum: Climate change: “History teaches us that unless we prepare for these challenges we will be undone.”

Including doing something about plastic at sea:
Microbeads to be banned from bathing products, Michael Gove announces - ITV News
Encouraged by early days of Gove leadership | Opinion | Materials Recycling World

This is from the Telegraph:

Microbeads will be banned this year, Michael Gove announces in first speech as Environment Secretary

Sarah Knapton, science editor 21 JULY 2017 • 11:40AM

Microbeads will be banned to prevent tiny pieces of plastic entering the world's oceans where they are then swallowed by wildlife, Michael Gove the Environment Secretary announced today.

The government has been consulting on whether to legislate against the beads, which are found in personal care products such as exfoliators, toothpaste and shower gels.

In his first major speech as Environment Secretary, Mr Gove confirmed that legislation will be introduced this year to ban their sale and manufacture.

He also pledged action to reduce plastic waste in the world's oceans and set out his ambition for the UK to lead the world in environmental protection.

Around eight million tonnes of plastic makes its way into oceans each year, posing a serious threat to the natural and marine environment. Experts estimate plastic is ingested by 31 species of marine mammals and over 100 species of sea birds.

As new figures published today revealed more than nine billion fewer plastic bags were used since the government introduced a 5p charge, an 83 per cent reduction, the Environment Secretary set out further plans to prevent other sources of plastic finding their way into our oceans and seas.

Speaking at WWF UK on Friday morning, Mr Gove said: "Eight million tonnes of plastic are discarded into the world’s oceans each year, putting marine wildlife under serious threat.

"In October 2015, the government introduced the 5p carrier bag charge. Figures released today show that policy’s enormous success – nine billion fewer carrier bags distributed since the charge was introduced, a fall of 83 per cent. More than £95million raised from the charge has been donated to environmental, educational and other good causes.

"Last year the government launched a consultation on banning microbeads in personal care products, which have such a devastating effect on marine life. We are responding to that consultation today and we will introduce legislation to implement that ban later this year.

"But there is more we can do to protect our oceans, so we will explore new methods of reducing the amount of plastic - in particular plastic bottles - entering our seas, improve incentives for reducing waste and litter, and review the penalties available to deal with polluters - all part of a renewed strategy on waste and resources that looks ahead to opportunities outside the EU."

Since its introduction, the 5p plastic bag charge has reduced use by over nine billion bags – enough to wrap around the world more than 100 times. Money raised from the charge has generated £95 million for good causes.

The government is also bringing forward legislation to help councils tackle littering from vehicles and will shortly publish its response to a consultation into increasing the fixed penalty fine for littering.

Mr Gove also said more will be done to tackle so-called 'defeat devices' which are used by car manufacturers to avoid strict pollution laws.

He also hinted that incentives will be introduced to encourage people to recycle more and use fewer plastic bottles.

Commenting on the government proposal to ban microbeads from personal care and cosmetic products published today, Greenpeace UK oceans campaigner Louisa Casson said:​ "The UK government has just proposed the strongest ban on microbeads in the world to date. This is great news for our environment and a positive sign of Britain's global leadership on ocean plastics. It's crucial that ministers have left the door open to broadening the ban in future.

"Now that ministers have acknowledged the broader need to end ocean plastics, they should take swift action to tackle the mountain of single-use plastic bottles threatening our oceans by introducing a deposit return scheme."

WWF-UK Chief Executive Tanya Steele said: "Banning microbeads is an important start to addressing the millions of tonnes of plastics entering the oceans every year. Microbeads are one of the most pervasive forms of marine pollution and prevention at source is far more effective than clean-up at sea.

"The ban needs to be as extensive as possible, to cover all products: there must be no loopholes or exemptions. Marine life does not distinguish between leave on and rinse off microbeads and neither should the ban."


Microbeads will be banned this year, Michael Gove announces in first speech as Environment Secretary
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