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Original poster

What plastics would you ban / put a charge on next?

101 replies

theremaybetulipsahead · 30/01/2023 22:05

If you were the PM what 'easy wins' with regard to plastics would you implement?

Mine would be:

  • Ban non-biodegradable nappies.
  • Minimum charge to single-use plastic coffee cups (similar to plastic bag charge).
  • Companies selling bottled water must also supply drinking water / water fountains. Add charge to bottled water.

Babies just woken up so will have to stop there...

OP posts:
Reluctantadult · 30/01/2023 22:10

One of the main issues re recycling is all the different types. So I would put a limit on the types with a focus on recyclable types.

I would ban plastic bottles for milk and drinks and have a returns scheme. Ban polystyrene packaging. Packaging on toys. Plastic crap in magazines.

How about a five year test. Will the product be usable for at least 5yrs. If not, banned. Is it repairable.

ACynicalDad · 30/01/2023 22:12

I’d ban all the shitty toys that go in party bags, are used once then broken and chucked.

declutteringmymind · 30/01/2023 22:19

It might be easier to look at it the other way round. Ban all plastic and heavily tax manufacturers that use it, or raise VAT on anything wrapped in plastic or containing plastic.

Counterbalance that with investment in renewables and sustainability and hopefully innovation will follow. It's happening but it's at a snail's pace.

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thefirstmrsrochester · 30/01/2023 22:20

Disposable vapes.

JamMakingWannaBe · 30/01/2023 22:25

A return scheme is starting in Scotland in August this year for glass bottles, plastic drink bottles (not milk) and drink cans. I think it's 2025 for England and Wales. The English scheme won't include glass bottles.

Scotland is in the process of banning lots of single use plastic and in 2025 Councils will have to collect soft plastics.

I can't be doing with paper straws in drink cartons. They just don't work the same.

I'd definitely ban cleaning wipes. A reusable jay cloth is so much better.

JamMakingWannaBe · 30/01/2023 22:28

I think in 20 years we'll look back at the proliferation of sequins on kid's tops and go WTF were we thinking?

Invisimamma · 30/01/2023 22:29

Disposable vapes.

Cheap shite toys...but I'm not sure how you define that.

Wallywobbles · 30/01/2023 22:34

All virgin plastic. It can all come from recycled. The cost between the two is minimal but virgin is slightly cheaper, so virgin it is. This one change would pretty much end plastic waste.

https://www.ted.com/talks/andrewforresttaradicallplantooendplasticcwaste?language=en

Mumteedum · 30/01/2023 22:35

I'd ban stupid plastic tags for clothes. Tiny so can't get recycled. Drive me nuts

LindorDoubleChoc · 30/01/2023 22:38

Balloons. Can't believe that people still buy these stupid single use fripperies and what's worse, fill them with helium!

NewFriday · 30/01/2023 22:39

I think all those things are tinkering round the edges. For me it's packaging and all the single use things in hospitals that.could be sterilised and reused if anyone had the will. Probably save money in the long term too.

I think a big mistake was made when recycling was all virtuos, when we should have been using less, not feeling better about using so much because it was "recycled".

megletthesecond · 30/01/2023 22:40

Deposit scheme for plastic and glass bottles so us litter pickers can make a few quid every weekend. Or have less to do. Either way is a win.

Lou573 · 30/01/2023 22:43

Plastic wrapping on fruit and veg. Feels entirely unnecessary and difficult to avoid.

Rummikub · 30/01/2023 22:43

Consumerism

Things built to
last

Good alternatives that are biodegradable or recyclable

MissVantaBlack · 30/01/2023 22:47

I think in 20 years we'll look back at the proliferation of sequins on kid's tops and go WTF were we thinking?

This. It's like Blue Planet never happened. I refuse to buy clothes with glitter, sequins or puffy plastic motifs. They shed so many microplastics into the ocean.

larchforest · 30/01/2023 22:48

Plastic toy packaging that you have to destroy in order to get the toy out. Bring back cardboard boxes, and hey presto, not only do you have boxes to re-use to keep the toys in, there won't be any need for large plastic boxes and crates.

pigsinoodies · 30/01/2023 22:52

Yes, vapes. They seem to be one of the main sources of litter nowadays - taken over from fag packets. A box, a plastic wrapper and a plastic item containing a hazardous battery.

madroid · 30/01/2023 23:13

Food packaging. When I was young I remember going to a greengrocer's with my mum who sold everything unwrapped and you used either paper bags or just put what you wanted straight into your bag/basket.

Food was locally sourced and seasonal. Since when do we need mushrooms in plastic cartons? bananas in plastic bags, apples in plastic bags, oranges in plastic nets? Just sell them unwrapped.

And then there's all the processed food that's more like a manufactured product than food. All packaged to market what is absolute crap, bad for health and very bad value for money.

Iam4eels · 30/01/2023 23:17

Definitely disposable vapes, they're never disposed of properly (and vaping is shit anyway so the more regulation on it, the better).

Plastic packaging. Bought a new mattress, it arrived in a cardboard box which is great and recyclable however inside the box the mattress was sealed inside a plastic bag, inside that bag was a layer of cling-film type material wrapped around the mattress, cut that off and there was a vacuum sealed bag around the mattress itself. Three layers of plastic - why!?

Food packaging. Loose fruit and veg can go in paper bags. There's no reason why bread, pasta, rice, etc can't be sold in paper bags rather than plastic. Most infuriating of all is packaging that is card/paper but then has a tiny plastic viewing window and it's always non-recyclable plastic so has to be removed before it goes in the recycle bin.

user1497207191 · 30/01/2023 23:17

Bubble wrap

Rummikub · 30/01/2023 23:18

madroid · 30/01/2023 23:13

Food packaging. When I was young I remember going to a greengrocer's with my mum who sold everything unwrapped and you used either paper bags or just put what you wanted straight into your bag/basket.

Food was locally sourced and seasonal. Since when do we need mushrooms in plastic cartons? bananas in plastic bags, apples in plastic bags, oranges in plastic nets? Just sell them unwrapped.

And then there's all the processed food that's more like a manufactured product than food. All packaged to market what is absolute crap, bad for health and very bad value for money.

Some packaging tho decreases food waste.

I agree re processed foods -vegan foods are a good example. Almond milk.

Iam4eels · 30/01/2023 23:20

Vegan food serve a purpose though. I'm lactose intolerant and vegan foods mean I can still enjoy "milk" products, they're far easier to find and there is a greater range now that veganism is popular.

Rummikub · 30/01/2023 23:23

As does some food packaging.

I guess it’s all about balance.

I do think the environmental
impact of eg almond milk should be widely available.

My dd is lactose intolerant and dc has egg allergy so I understand how vegan food makes life easier but it’s still useful to be aware of the impact.

stayathomer · 30/01/2023 23:42

The bean bags with that awful stuff in them. Those orbeez things. Balloons and most party stuff such as crackers, streamers etc(god I sound awful!) but hilariously what everyone is calling tat, the little cheap toys? My kids adore them. They play with McDonald’s toys they got years ago!!! And I’d start the scheme they have in Germany where they use glass instead of plastic and you get paid for your glass.