UK plastic waste will rocket by over a million tonnes by 2030, says WWF

The amount of plastic which Britons throw away is set rise by a fifth by the end of the next decade – with a 34% rise in crisp packets, 41% more plastic straws and 9% more drinks bottles.

UK consumers could also be using a third more disposable drinks cups by 2030 without action to curb plastic waste, the study by WWF said.

The conservation group wants governments to implement policies to tackle the problem, including a “latte levy” on single-use drinks cups, and a deposit return scheme to encourage plastic bottle recycling.

The predictions for rising plastic use in the UK are based on modelling existing available data and take into account factors such as rising economic output and the impact of new European legislation.

This year alone, the UK will use 10.8 billion wet wipes, 16.5 billion pieces of plastic cutlery, 42 billion straws and 4.1 billion single-use drinks cups and lids, the report said.

Tanya Steele, chief executive of WWF, said: “We are polluting our world with plastic, suffocating our oceans and overwhelming our wildlife.

“The amount of plastic which the UK is throwing away is set to rocket by over a million tonnes by 2030 – that’s the equivalent of 87,000 more double decker buses worth of plastic waste each year.

“We must act now – banning avoidable single use plastic by 2025 – and introducing incentives to help people and businesses make the right choices to reduce, reuse and recycle.”

The report also warned that while plastic waste would rise dramatically without action, recycling rates for plastic would increase more slowly.

Less than a third (31%) of plastic waste is recycled, a figure which is expected to rise to 42% by 2030, while single-use plastic recycling rates are predicted to increase from 29% to 37% over the next 12 years.

Responding to the report, a Defra spokesman said: “We want to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we found it, and we have already taken significant steps to tackle plastic through banning microbeads and taking nine billion plastic bags out of circulation with our 5p charge.

“But we all need to do more, which is why we have committed to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste and recently launched a call for evidence on how changes to the tax system can reduce waste from single-use plastics.”

:: Sky’s Ocean Rescue campaign encourages people to reduce their single-use plastics. You can find out more about the campaign and how to get involved at www.skyoceanrescue.com

(c) Sky News 2018: UK plastic waste will rocket by over a million tonnes by 2030, says WWF