Britain will ban sale of plastic straws

Britain plans to ban the sale of plastic straws and other single-use plastic products and is pressing Commonwealth allies to also take action to tackle marine waste, the office of Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May said.

It said drink stirrers and cotton swabswould also be banned under the plans.Scotlandhas already said it will ban the sale of plastic stemmed buds by the end of next year.

It's estimated that 8.5 billion straws are disposed of in the United Kingdom every year.

May has pledged to eradicate avoidable plastic waste by 2042as part of a "national plan of action".

"Plastic waste is one of the greatest environmentalchallenges facing the world, which is why protecting the marineenvironment is central to our agenda at the Commonwealth Headsof Government Meeting," May said in a statement ahead of aCommonwealth summit on Thursday.

Leaders from the Commonwealth a network of 53 countries,mostly former British colonies are meeting in London thisweek, where they are expected to adopt a "Blue Charter" on protecting the marine environment.

Queen Elizabeth gave the chartera plug in her opening remarks Thursday.

"The Commonwealth Canopy has emphasized our inter-dependence while the Blue Charter promises to do the same in protecting our shared ocean resources," she said.

May is looking to deepen ties to the Commonwealth as Britainseeks to boost trade and carve out a new role in the world aheadof the country's departure from the European Union in March nextyear.

Tackling plastic waste worldwide

Britain will commit 61.4 million pounds ($110million Cdn) atthe summit to develop new ways of tackling plastic waste andhelp Commonwealth countries limit how much plastic ends up inthe ocean.

"We are rallying Commonwealth countries to join us in thefight against marine plastic," May said.

"Together we can effect real change so that futuregenerations can enjoy a natural environment that is healthierthan we currently find it."

The statement said environment minister Michael Gove wouldlaunch a consultation later this year into the plan to ban theplastic items. It gave no details who the consultation would bewith.

On Thursday,Govecalled the impact of plastic onseas and oceans a "worldwide emergency."