The ban on plastic straw.   Prime Minister Theresa May announced that there will be a consultation into some banning some prevalent single-use plastics, including plastic straws and cotton buds at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Friday 19 April. Around 8.5 billion plastic straws are thrown out in the UK every year,…

Waitrose to stop using disposable coffee cups.   Some 2.5 billion coffee cups are thrown away annually in the UK, almost none of which are recycled because of their plastic lining. Disposable cups will be removed from all Waitrose stores by the autumn. Members of its loyalty scheme will still…

Nestlé reveals packaging recycling target. Food manufacturer Nestlé has announced its ambition to make all of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. The company – which employs 330 people at its factory in Dalston, near Carlisle – said it wants none of its packaging, including plastics, to end up…