On Friday, I met the Chair of Elmbridge Friends of the Earth, Heather Fraser, and three of her colleagues to discuss the harm caused by plastic pollution and the need to cut down waste and increase rates of recycling.
It was a valuable opportunity to discuss the action the government is taking, including the successful introduction of the 5p plastic bag charge, which has reduced the use of plastic bags by 15.6 billion since 2015, and the ban on microbeads in personal care products, which will help protect our marine environment.
Heather and her team briefed me on Friends of the Earth’s Plastic Pollution Plan, which contains proposals to phase out of single-use plastic items such as sachets and coffee cups, and includes a formal aim of zero plastic pollution by 2042. I agreed to raise the Plan with the Environment Secretary Michael Gove.
