Call for ban on single-use plastic in Guernsey

The Clean Earth Trust want a ban the supply of single use plastics in Guernsey.

An environmental charity is renewing calls to ban the supply of single-use plastics in Guernsey.

The Clean Earth Trust said it had drafted legislation for the States, as Guernsey is "way behind" other places that have already imposed a ban.

The calls come after a Guernsey marine biologist said he had found more different types of plastic bottles on the island's beaches than the variety of fish recorded in UK waters.

Paul Budgen, the charity's policy officer, believes much of the waste that washes up on the island has been "dumped from ocean going vessels".

Paul Budgen says Guernsey is falling "way behind" other places in bringing in a ban on single-use plastic items

Guernsey falling behind

He said: "Most beach cleans that we do, we will probably find one or two items where you can look at them and you can see that there is a foreign language.

"Quite often it can be Chinese or Korean or from quite some distance away."

Mr Budgen thinks shipping companies which are thought to be dumping rubbish at sea should be encouraged "not to engage in that sort of behaviour."

On a local level, the charity said more can be done to reduce plastic waste.

In 2018, the European Parliament voted for a complete ban on a range of single-use plastics which came into effect in 2021.

In October 2023, England banned the selling of single-use plastic cutlery, polystyrene cups or food containers for hospitality businesses after banning single-use straws, stirrers and cotton buds containing plastic in 2022.

Mr Budgen said: "It's a great shame to see Guernsey fall behind European standards and to fall behind other islands like the Isle of Man who have got a very comprehensive ban on single-use plastics.

"So we are way behind everybody else."