02-07-2025
Environmentalists call for ban on single use plastics by businesses on River Thames
An environmental group is calling for single use plastic cups to be phased out in venues along the Thames.
In the Drink UK are part of a wider group who spoke to 250 pubs and bars along the River Thames over 18 months to find out how many are still using single use items.
The research found 69% of venues are still using single use plastic cups - many of which end up in the river adding to problems of long-term plastic pollution.
Director of In The Drink UK, Flora Blathwayt, said: "They're tonnes and tonnes of plastic in the Thames, but plastic cups is something you can easily identify.
"If we can just stop a proportion of that at its source [it] will mean that we're not having to clear up so many. And all of the fish and the wildlife hopefully are going to be that much more protected."
The Port of London Authority supports the idea as part of its Clean Thames Plan which aims to address all forms of pollution in the waterway, including these cups.
Emily McLean, a senior advisor at the PLA, explained: "Tackling pollution is one of our key priorities and particularly the impact of plastics and microplastics in the river is really prevalent.
"We remove litter from the river every year up to 200 tonnes, which is equivalent of about 250 family cars.
"The majority of that is single use plastic cups and bottles."
Moreover, since 2018, more than 13,500 single use plastic cups have been collected by Thames21 - a charity that works with communities to restore and look after rivers, water and nature across London and the Thames Basin.
The cups can break down into microplastics which threaten wildlife and water quality.
"The Thames is the lifeblood of London and it's really important that we improve the quality of the river for both humans and all the animals living within it," said Emily.
"The water quality is really important. The Thames has come a long way. It was declared biologically dead in the 50s and now we've got 125 species of fish living in the river.
"So it's really important that we continue to improve it for the environment and for everyone that wants to live and enjoy the river as well," she continued.
The report calls for some key recommendations:
• A two-year phase-out of single-use plastic cups in licensed venues
• A national ban on free branded single-use plastic cups often given away at events
• Updated licensing policies to prevent customers leaving with drinks in disposable cups after closing
• National guidance to support the transition to reusables and eliminate misleading claims about 'biodegradable' plastics
Flora adds: "There is an alternative, we can switch to reusables.
"It might take a little bit of work but it's worth it and the constraints like washing the cups and storage, we can easily get around them. And pubs and working for them from a cost saving point of view as well. So it really is win, win."
