Vancouver votes to ban plastic straws, foam cups and containers by June 2019

Vancouver has voted to ban the distribution of plastic straws as well as foam take-out containers and cups as part of its zero-waste strategy.

Drinking straws protrude from a glass in an illustration
 picture in Loughborough, Britain April 19, 2018.

The ban will be introduced on June 1, 2019. 

The move is part of the city's Zero Waste 2040 strategy, which was approved by councillors in a vote on Wednesday.

Read the CBC story - “Vancouver votes to ban plastic straws, foam cups and containers by June 2019.”

Bottle and can deposit return scheme gets green light in England

All drinks containers in England, whether plastic, glass or metal, will be covered by a deposit return scheme, the government has announced.

 Deposit return schemes currently operate in 38 countries. 

The forthcoming scheme is intended to cut the litter polluting the land and sea by returning a small cash sum to consumers who return their bottles and cans.

Similar schemes operate in 38 countries, and campaigners have worked for a decade for its introduction in England.

Fees vary depending on the size of the bottle or can and many use “reverse vending machines” to automate the return.

Read Damian Carrington’s story from The Guardian - “Bottle and can deposit return scheme gets green light in England.”