BBC_Science_Focus_-_08.2019

REALITY CHECK

S C I E NC E

B E H I N D T H E

HEADLINES

With the UK government admiing it won’t hit its 2020

recycling targets, we find out how you can navigate

the recycling minefield.

Choose your bags carefully

The 5p charge for single-use plastic bags first came into effect

in Wales in 2011. Northern Ireland and Scotland followed suit,

and finally England joined the effort in 2015. The idea was to

discourage shoppers from using new bags every time they

shopped, and it had an enormous effect: since then, the

measure is estimated to have reduced the number of single-use

bags by 13 billion in England alone.

Biodegradable bags, designed to be broken down by bacteria,

are generally thought to be a kinder option for the

environment. However, they needs specific conditions to be

broken down: a study by the University of Plymouth found that

biodegradable bags left in soil or in a marine environment

could still hold a full bag of shopping after three years.

Cotton tote bags aren’t necessarily better. Cotton is

environmentally intensive to produce, between the energy,

water, fertiliser and pesticide used in the process, and on top

REALITY

CHECK

PLASTIC:CAN I

REDUCE HOW

MUCH I USE?

1. REVIEW
   Plastic waste


2. ANALYSIS
   Sun cream


3. COMMENT
   Ultra-processed food

1 While

plastic food

packaging

is oen not

necessary,

in some

cases it can

help extend

shelf life

and reduce

food waste

2 Single-

use carrier

bags have

declined in

popularity,

with many

people

opting for

alternatives

REVIEW

REVIEW