Norfolk environmentalist calls for clamp down on microplastics
Research estimates that all households throws away 1.7 billion pieces of plastic packaging a week
An environmental academic and activist from Norfolk says further regulation is needed to clamp down on the spread of microplastics.
It comes as the organisers of this year's Earth Day have called for there to be a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040.
"That's not our fault, it's the producers' fault"
Dr Charlie Gardner lives in West Norfolk:"Plastics are not just in water, they are in the food we eat as well.
"Not just seafood but in fruits, vegetables and meats, because we fertilise our fields with things like sewage sludge that also contain microplastics.
"Quite often the focus is on us, as the consumers, to buy less things wrapped in plastic. but that's incredibly difficult as it's everywhere. That's not our fault, it's the producers' fault.
"We need to work on those who are distributing plastics, as well. The big supermarket chains can do a lot to reduce the amount of plastics going into our weekly shops.£
How serious is the issue of plastic pollution?
Research from groups Greenpeace and Everyday Plastic shows that, in total, all households throw away 1.7 billion pieces of plastic packaging a week.
This equates to 90 billion pieces of waste a year.
The "big plastic count" involved almost 225,000 people from 77,000 households and found snack packaging and veg packaging were the most commonly counted plastic packaging.
The count also estimates that more than half the plastic packaging pieces being thrown away (58%) were incinerated, which campaigners warn add to greenhouse gases and pose health risks to communities near incinerators.
Just 17% was recycled.
The campaign groups warned that the UK threw away more plastic per person than every other country except the US, and recycling would never be able to catch up with the amount of plastics being produced.
What's the Government doing to tackle this?
The UK signed a treaty last year with 52 other countries to End Plastic Pollution by 2040.
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said: "Plastic pollution continues to have a devastating effect on our world’s ocean, people and the wider environment.
"That’s why it’s more important than ever to step up, take action and drive forward the change needed to bring an end to plastic pollution globally.
"I am proud to be amongst other HAC members signing this statement that calls for ambitious new measures within the global plastics treaty and look forward to some productive and high-reaching discussions in the upcoming INC-2 meeting in Paris."