News / Plastic campaigner backs cotton bud ban proposal
THE CHAIRMAN of Shetland Islands Council’s environment committee has backed moves by the Scottish Government to ban the manufacture and sale of plastic-stemmed cotton buds.
Ryan Thomson, who also leads a campaign to eradicate single-use plastics in Shetland, said he is “glad the government are now starting to give this serious issue the attention it deserves”.
A consultation is open on the cotton bud proposal until 22 June and Shetland Islands Council is due to give its views.
North Isles councillor Thomson said Shetland is already “ahead of the game” when it comes to reducing plastic use and looking out for the marine environment.
“The issue of cotton buds may seem like a ‘drop in the ocean’ as it were, but we must start somewhere, and we need to really get a move on,” he said.
“In Shetland we have businesses and retailers who have already banned plastic straws, plastics cups and plastic stemmed cotton buds, along with things like toothbrushes and single-use coffee cups.
“Shetland must continue to lead the way on this. In the coming months and years we should be making drastic changes and steps to combat plastic pollution on land and in the sea.
“It’s time to start banning everything that we have a decent and affordable alternative to – plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic wrapping of fruit and vegetables, to name a few. We need to start making drastic changes now, not in 25-30 years, because if we don’t the consequences will be even more drastic.”
Scottish environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham encouraged “any organisation or individual with an interest in safeguarding our marine environment to respond to this consultation”.
“Protecting our seas and oceans from the blight of plastic pollution is of great importance and we recognises the need to take action when the health of our marine environment is threatened,” she added.
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