This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament

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Petition Ban the sale of manual plastic toothbrushes in the UK by 2025.

We would like the UK Government to ban the sale of manual plastic toothbrushes in the UK by 2025. Manual plastic toothbrushes are a notorious example of harmful plastic waste, and there are a variety of environmentally friendly alternatives in the market to move forward with.

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In the UK alone, 264 million manual plastic toothbrushes are thrown out every year. Each one of these plastic toothbrushes is non-biodegradable, meaning they'll last in the environment for over 600 years causing damage to wildlife and littering our country. There are already a variety of green alternatives available today, like bamboo toothbrushes which are readily biodegradable. Toothbrushes do not need to be harmful to the environment, so let's ban manual plastic ones.

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MPs call for ban on all plastic waste exports

MPs on the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee have called for a ban on the export of all plastic waste from the UK by 2027 to reduce the country's contribution to global plastic waste pollution. 

Read a summary of the Committee's report on plastic waste

Report on ending the impact of plastic waste

Earlier this month, the Committee published a report on the impact of plastic waste and ways of reducing it. In their report, MPs called on the Government to restrict the amount of plastic that can be exported from the UK. They also called on the Government to step up the enforcement of existing rules to prevent criminal gangs illegally exporting and dumping UK-produced waste. 

The report follows a series of evidence sessions earlier this year, where the Committee questions representatives from charities, environmental campaigners and commercial trade experts. At these sessions the Committee explored:

  • whether the Government’s current ambitions to reduce plastic waste were enough
  • how alternatives to plastic consumption can be identified and supported
  • how England's current plastic exports impact other countries.

Find out more about the Committee's inquiry into plastic waste and read oral evidence from the Committee's inquiry.

What is the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee? 

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is a cross-party group of backbench MPs that scrutinises the administration, spending and policy of the Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 

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Share your insights and ideas on reducing plastic pollution in the oceans

On Thursday, 27 April, Selaine Saxby MP will lead a debate in Parliament on reducing plastic pollution in the oceans.

To inform the debate, she would like to hear your insights and ideas on the topic. She may quote your contribution directly during her debate. 

Find out more and share your ideas with her by midday on Wednesday 26 April: 

Reducing plastic pollution in the oceans

Videos of the debate, the transcript of what was said, and other relevant material will be accessible shortly after the debate on this webpage. 

What are backbench business debates?

Backbench business debates give backbenchers (MPs who aren’t ministers or shadow ministers) an opportunity to secure a debate on a topic of their choice, either in the main House of Commons Chamber or Westminster Hall, the second chamber of the House of Commons.

MPs can make a request for a debate to the Backbench Business Committee, who hears requests and decides which debates to schedule.

Backbench debates can either be general debates (which do not end in a vote) or be on a substantive motion (which calls for an action and can end in a vote). This debate will be a general debate.