Counting on …. Day 1.146

11th August 2023

A small thing to notice, but in France all take away cups, whether for hot or cold drinks are in paper cups with paper lids. At some point the government must have determined that this was the best thing, drawn up legislation, announced a start date and the enacted it. Clear, straightforward and comprehensive so everyone knows where they are. 

Starting in 2019, France set out a list of dates specifying when the use of certain plastic items would be banned, as well as requirements for the labelling and recycling of plastics, such that by 2040 single use plastic will be completely phased out. https://www.france24.com/en/20191231-france-begins-phasing-out-single-use-plastics

Here in the UK a ban on single use plastic such as cutlery, plates, stirrers, drinking straws (with exemption for health needs), plastic stemmed cotton buds, balloon sticks, expanded and foamed extruded polystyrene fast-food containers, is due to come into effect in October 2023, but not as part of a comprehensive strategy. 

Unknown's avatar

Author: Judith Russenberger

Environmentalist and theologian, with husband and three grown up children plus one cat, living in London SW14. I enjoy running and drinking coffee - ideally with a friend or a book.

Leave a comment