The banning of single use plastics

I’m a big fan of any move that will improve our environment; however, I feel this decision, whilst warranted, misses the point a little.

As a country, the UK isn’t even on the Top Ten list of worst polluters. Don’t get me wrong, this is great, but surely we should be lobbying the countries that are on there to do more, rather than hurting people within our shores who are simply trying to make a living. Because, let’s face it, the companies that incorporate single-use plastics into their business offering are not the most profitable. This move will predominantly affect local takeaways and burger vans…those businesses just scraping by in this cost-of-living crisis. It won’t be the McDonald’s and the KFCs, whose customers littering their localities will be much greater in number than the people Chucky’s Chicken of Dudley serves, or Ma’s Kitchen in Sunderland. How much of an issue are these single-use plastics, compared with the gallons of CO² private jets kick out when their wealthy owners need to go somewhere? Or the huge factories across the UK who make little effort to meet their green targets?

As I said, the ban isn’t the issue. I believe it should go ahead, as the decomposition of single use plastics once they’re discarded takes many years, which isn’t good for the planet. But it should come with a caveat, such as no VAT on ‘green’ single-use alternatives for companies earning under £50,000. And this move should also be in conjunction with greater pressure (perhaps even further laws) on the big players of industry, the ones who are polluting our planet in great measure without any real consequence.

China, the worst culprit of environmental damage, spits out 10,065 million tonnes of CO² each year. The country in tenth position, Indonesia, pales almost into insignificance in comparison, as it releases 615 million tonnes on an annual basis. China should be tackled. China should be made to adhere to numerous green laws. China should adapt its business practices…but instead, we’re gunning for Gunther and his burger van. How is that fair?

The truth is, it’s easy to police the ban amongst small fry takeaway owners, rather than despot-run countries who would tell Greenpeace to bog off if they approached. Money talks, and the world has become too reliant on the wares coming out of Chinese factories. The Chinese government clearly couldn’t care less about the planet as they rake in the dough from the output of their workers—that’s for another generation to sort out. Grab all you can for now!

It's laudable that there are people in power concerned with the damage single use polystyrene containers and plastic cutlery can cause, and how long such items take to break down in landfill. But are they as concerned with the micro-plastics in our oceans, our drinking water, our food, and even our bloodstreams?

Less than 9% of the plastic we use is recycled and reused effectively. Clamping down on any use of plastics is necessary. The move to ban single use plastics is a good one, but let’s use our common sense here. The people who sell food products that require such items may need financial support if they’re to incorporate much costlier green replacements.

This ban, realistically, is a drop in the (plastic-filled) ocean when it comes to the action we all need to take. Particularly China.