The UK generates around 2.2 million metric tonnes of plastic packaging waste every year, including household plastic packaging totalling 1.5 million tonnes. Around 600,000 tonnes of the waste is generated from plastic bottles.
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Although the volume of plastic bottles collected for recycling has increased to 371,000 tonnes per year, this still leaves too much waste, say campaigners. Only 46.2% of all plastic waste in the UK is recycled.
Wales has the UK's best recycling rate for household plastics at 45%, while England's rate is only 36%. This has led 76% of residents to complain that not enough is being done about plastic pollution.
Are recycling rates improving?
The recycling rate for household plastics has steadily risen over the years, but not quickly. A decade ago, in 2011, the UK rate was 42.9%, according to data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
At the time, the European Union set a target for the UK (under the EC Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive) of recycling 50% of household plastic waste by 2020. This target hasn't yet been met, although the figure has been going in the right direction.
The most common types of litter found on Britain's beaches during the 2019 Great British Beach Clean were plastic and polystyrene pieces. Volunteers recovered 143 pieces of single-use plastic and polystyrene waste per 100 metres of beach - considerably more than the second-highest ranked item of rubbish, cigarette ends.
How are supermarkets helping the environment?
Supermarkets introduced a charge for plastic carrier bags in October 2015, following a government directive aimed at reducing single-use plastic waste. The law changed to make the charge a legal requirement, with the aim of encouraging shoppers to take reusable bags with them to the supermarket.
The carrier bag charge is helping to reduce single-use plastics, according to a government report, with plastic bag sales in major supermarkets dropping by 86% since 2015. The success of the initiative led the government to update the legislation in August 2020.
In England, small and medium-size retailers with less than 250 staff were exempt from applying the charge. However, from 1st April 2021, the charge for plastic carrier bags will extend from supermarkets to all businesses of any size selling goods. The charge for an individual plastic bag will also increase from 5p to 10p.
How many supermarkets recycle old plastic bags?
While some councils are beginning to recycle used carrier bags as part of their household recycling schemes, this isn't a widespread service at present.
However, larger UK supermarkets have started offering recycling facilities for carrier bags. They will also recycle other plastic packaging, including the plastic films that feature a label urging people to "recycle with carrier bags at larger stores".
The supermarkets offering collection points for plastic bags at larger stores include Morrison's, Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, the Co-op and Waitrose. Collection points are usually located by the main entrance doors. Shoppers are advised to check whether their local supermarket offers this service.
Are we on track to saving our planet and wildlife?
Plastics first came into widespread use after World War II. Once a plastic bag or wrapper is disposed of, it breaks down very slowly into smaller fragments that linger on for hundreds of years.
Carelessly discarded single-use plastics have washed up everywhere in the world's oceans. It is estimated that on some of Hawaii's beaches, up to 15% of the sand is made up of microplastic grains.
In the UK, scientists researching the water quality at the Sound, between Cawsand Bay and Bovisand Bay, off the Plymouth coast, collected 504 fish of ten different species. They found microplastics in the guts of more than 33% of the fish. These shocking findings made international headlines.
Despite findings such as these, scientists are still hopeful we can succeed in saving the planet for future generations, but only if industry and the public all over the world pull together to reverse climate change now.
A report published by The Nature Conservancy suggests we must work quickly to stop single-use plastics from polluting our oceans and planet. It estimates eight million tons of plastic end up in the sea every year and says individuals can help by doing more to reduce waste.
What can people do to help save the planet?
Reducing our own plastic use is crucial, as eight of the ten most commonly found items in beach clean ups are single-use food-related items, including everything from sandwich and fast food wrappers to plastic cutlery. People are advised to support local businesses that have a "green" ethos.
Consumers can also reduce their own plastic footprint by purchasing household products in recyclable packaging and then taking part in local recycling initiatives. It's easy to separate domestic waste into the relevant recycling bins to participate in green schemes managed by local authorities.
Participate in clean-up efforts yourself, such as the annual beach clean ups across the UK. If there isn't one in your area, why not join forces with a group of like-minded people and start your own this spring?
In your own home, reuse plastic boxes for storage purposes, rather than throwing them away, as this saves money, as well as being a more eco-friendly way of living.
Try to use products made of recycled materials and check before you buy items whether they can be recycled after use.
Avoid single-use throwaway plastic items and think "reuse" and "recycle" in every aspect of your day-to-day life.
Solent Plastics is a responsible supplier of plastic storage products that can be used time and time again. Fully committed to being an eco-friendly company, we support the ethos of recycling and advocate reusing items wherever possible.