What the European Parliament’s ban on single-use plastic means for UK residents

Analysis: As the EU announces sweeping bans on single-use plastics, Josh Gabbatiss asks what this means – if anything – for British people and the government’s war on waste

Bans on disposable items are a start, but lawmakers need to go further (PA)

In February, environment minister Michael Gove got into a Twitter spat with the European Commission’s first vice-president, Frans Timmermans, over plastic straws.

A few years ago, straws would have seemed a ridiculous topic for two men of such standing to fall out over. But we are living in the post-Blue Planet age, when public hatred of plastic has reached fever pitch, and taken the top slot in the environmental debate.

After initially suggesting the EU was holding back his plan to ban the offending items – and subsequently being set straight – Mr Gove claimed Europe was behind the UK in efforts to tackle single-use plastics.