Plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds could soon be banned in England

Plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds are set to be banned from sale in England.

The initiative is intended to reduce the impact of plastic pollution on oceans and rivers - an issue highlighted by David Attenborough's Blue Planet II. Announcing the policy in The Times, environment secretary Michael Gove said he wanted to end "society's addiction" to throwaway products. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the UK uses 13.2 billion cotton buds a year, more than any other member of the EU, as well as 44.1 billion stirrers and 42 billion straws. Subject to a consultation, to be launched later this year, the products would be banned from sale and officials would work with industry to develop alternatives. Gove said:

"We've already seen a number of retailers, bars and restaurants stepping up to the plate and cutting plastic use, however it's only through government, business and the public working together that we will protect our environment for the next generation - we all have a role to play in turning the tide on plastic."

  This comes as some Irish politicians fight for Ireland to ban microbeads and microplastics. Labour TD Sean Sherlock has said that he is "hopefully" the government will publish its legislation on the ban of the plastics. He said:

"(The bill's) intention is to ban microplastics and the scourge of microbeads, which find their way into river courses and out into the sea. "There is an evidence basis for those plastics being ingested by fish and eventually working their way back into the human food chain."