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EU suggests it will outlaw single-use plastics by summer after Gove said Europe could block UK plastic straws ban EU suggests it will outlaw single-use plastics by summer after Gove said Europe could block UK plastic straws ban
(35 minutes later)
The Vice-President of the European Commission has suggested the EU will ban single-use plastics by the summer, after Michael Gove said there was "some concern" Europe may prevent the UK outlawing plastic straws. The European Commission has suggested the EU will ban single-use plastics by the summer, after Michael Gove said there was "some concern" Europe may prevent the UK outlawing plastic straws.
More follows… Frans Timmerman, Vice-President of the EU's executive cabinet, told Mr Gove on Twitter: "One step ahead of you. EU legislation on single-use plastics coming before the summer. Maybe you can align with us?"
The announcement came shortly after the Environment Secretary announced he was looking into the legal basis for ditching single-use straws.
Mr Gove told Sky News: “Plastic straws are a scourge. They're just one example of the ways in which we pollute the oceans and damage marine wildlife. I want to do everything we can to restrict the use of plastic straws and we're exploring at the moment if we can ban them."
He added: “There is some concern that EU laws mean that we can’t ban straws at moment, but I'm doing everything I can to ensure that we end this scourge and I hope to make an announcement shortly.
“Straws are not just another example of plastic waste - they can be lethal...I believe we need to act and I'm exploring now what we can do as quick as possible within the law.”
On Wednesday, Mr Timmerman told a conference there is "urgent work to do" following China's decision to limit imports of plastic waste.
"We will find ways to re-use and recycle more plastic and avoid micro-plastic leakage," he said.
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