• Publish Your article
  • Editorial Policy
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Thursday, August 7, 2025
No Result
View All Result
UK Herald
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Sports
    England rugby stadium Twickenham given new name after more than 100 years in shock new deal

    England rugby stadium Twickenham given new name after more than 100 years in shock new deal

    Peter Morgan dead at 65: Former Wales and Lions rugby star who became a politician passes away as club pays tribute

    Peter Morgan dead at 65: Former Wales and Lions rugby star who became a politician passes away as club pays tribute

    Horse racing tips: Unexposed Group 1 contender can stun the big guns at 14-1

    Horse racing tips: Unexposed Group 1 contender can stun the big guns at 14-1

    Woman ‘raped seven times by two French rugby stars who left her riddled with bite marks & with horror injuries’

    Woman ‘raped seven times by two French rugby stars who left her riddled with bite marks & with horror injuries’

    Horse racing tips: Gary Moore’s charge can gain revenge after falling last time out

    Horse racing tips: Gary Moore’s charge can gain revenge after falling last time out

    Ian Buckett dead at 56: Former Wales rugby star who was ‘admired and feared equally’ dies as tributes pour in

    Ian Buckett dead at 56: Former Wales rugby star who was ‘admired and feared equally’ dies as tributes pour in

    Horse racing tips: Bash the bookies with these longshots including 9-1 fancy

    Horse racing tips: Bash the bookies with these longshots including 9-1 fancy

    Shayne Philpott dead at 58 – New Zealand All Blacks rugby legend dies after suffering ‘medical event’

    Shayne Philpott dead at 58 – New Zealand All Blacks rugby legend dies after suffering ‘medical event’

    Horse racing tips: This 7-1 chance appears to have been laid out for race he won last year

    Horse racing tips: This 7-1 chance appears to have been laid out for race he won last year

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • food
    • Health
    • Travel
    This ‘incredible’ road will leave you both amazed and terrified

    This ‘incredible’ road will leave you both amazed and terrified

    The world’s funniest country revealed — and Brits are way off the mark

    The world’s funniest country revealed — and Brits are way off the mark

    Wizz Air launches 5 new Spanish routes from the UK – but not everyone is happy

    Wizz Air launches 5 new Spanish routes from the UK – but not everyone is happy

    I flew 4,600 miles to a Jamaican resort that offers more than just ‘fly and flop’

    I flew 4,600 miles to a Jamaican resort that offers more than just ‘fly and flop’

    I was Jet2 and Virgin cabin crew – here’s 3 ‘secret’ European destinations

    I was Jet2 and Virgin cabin crew – here’s 3 ‘secret’ European destinations

    British airport announces ‘major redesign’ including new restaurants and runway views 

    British airport announces ‘major redesign’ including new restaurants and runway views 

    ‘Like the Caribbean’: Ibiza’s quiet little sister with lunar beaches and turquoise oceans 

    ‘Like the Caribbean’: Ibiza’s quiet little sister with lunar beaches and turquoise oceans 

    This street in Europe is just 50cm wide and has traffic lights so tourists don’t get stuck

    This street in Europe is just 50cm wide and has traffic lights so tourists don’t get stuck

    My holiday breakfast buffet hack is controversial but it’s a money saver

    My holiday breakfast buffet hack is controversial but it’s a money saver

    UK company launches £5,000 sex cruise — these are the rules passengers must follow

    UK company launches £5,000 sex cruise — these are the rules passengers must follow

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Health
  • Opinion
  • Science
  • Tech
  • Crypto
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Sports
  • More
    • Press Release
UK Herald
No Result
View All Result

Alberto Costa: ‘My bill will tackle microplastics and protect our rivers’

by Justin Marsh
January 17, 2025
0
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterReddit


Of the many microplastics that are released into the environment, 35% are shed from clothing. So small that they are often imperceptible, microfibres have stayed under the policymaking radar for far too long. It is time we finally take microplastic pollution from clothing seriously. That is why I am introducing a bill that will tackle the problem of microplastic pollution head on, by mandating filters in new washing machines to collect them before they ever reach our natural environment.

Microfibre plastic pollution is one of the most pervasive and preventable forms of microplastic pollution. After hundreds of years, whole bits of plastics become microplastics and then nanoplastics: tiny, often microscopic, pieces of plastic that sink to the bottom of the ocean floor or are consumed by humans or animals.

We are only just beginning to understand the impacts of microplastics, but they are looking bleak. Increasing numbers of scientific studies show microplastic contamination within the human body can be harmful to human cells, contributing to respiratory disorders, endocrine disruption, and possibly even a decline in fertility. The scale of this pollution is clear and the sources of microplastics are only growing.

Synthetic textiles, like polyester, have made this problem worse, exacerbated by the rise of fast fashion brands which depend heavily on these plastic fibres. As their clothes flood the market, so too do these microfibres flood our watercourses each time we wash them.

We are not doing enough to stop the flow of microplastics into our natural environment. Waste plastic doesn’t wait for government action – it keeps on floating around our planet, breaking down into microscopic pieces, polluting our natural world.

Recognising the scale of this challenge and the need for action despite our slow progress, I have introduced a bill to Parliament that aims to stem the tide of microplastic pollution. My bill requires washing machine manufacturers to fit microplastic-catching filters in all new domestic and commercial washing machines, a commitment that France and Australia have already made.

Without filters in place, microplastics are too small to be caught by standard washing machine filters. As such, they can end up in the wastewater system where they are either caught, remain in sewage sludge which can be spread onto growing crops, or released from the wastewater into river and marine environments.

By including microplastic-specific filters, we can reduce the problem by over 78% per wash cycle. This number will likely continue improving as the technology progresses. Mandating these filters will speed up industry advances in filter technology too.

This seemingly small step will help to stem the tide of the 500,000 tonnes of synthetic microfibres entering our natural environment from washing machines. As one of the most pervasive and avoidable forms of plastic pollution, reducing microfibre plastic pollution is a great place to start for policymakers looking beyond kerbside collections to solve our waste problems.

With diverse cross-party support, my bill is an easy first step for this Labour government to show, not just tell us, that it is serious about creating a more circular economy. The problem of microplastic pollution is clear. So is my proposed solution.

Politics.co.uk is the UK’s leading digital-only political website. Subscribe to our daily newsletter for all the latest news and analysis.

The post Alberto Costa: ‘My bill will tackle microplastics and protect our rivers’ appeared first on Politics.co.uk.



Source link

Related Posts

The surprise strengthening of Rachel Reeves

The surprise strengthening of Rachel Reeves

by Justin Marsh
August 5, 2025
0

Rachel Reeves made a surprise, symbolic appearance this morning to aid the prime minister and health secretary Wes Streeting in setting out the government’s 10-year plan for a “Neighbourhood Health Service”. The...

One year of Labour and Europe — why the government must go further on EU reset 

One year of Labour and Europe — why the government must go further on EU reset 

by Justin Marsh
August 3, 2025
0

At 10pm on July 4, 2024, when the exit poll was revealed — making it clear that Keir Starmer would be our next prime minister — our hopes for a better relationship...

Sarah Smith: ‘Backing Institutes of Technology can help deliver Labour’s opportunity mission’

Sarah Smith: ‘Backing Institutes of Technology can help deliver Labour’s opportunity mission’

by Justin Marsh
August 1, 2025
0

After being appointed as Labour’s opportunity mission champion last year, I made it clear my role was to get out and learn from the education institutions that are making a real difference....

Nigel Farage ‘on the side of predators’ with Online Safety Act criticism, says Labour

Nigel Farage ‘on the side of predators’ with Online Safety Act criticism, says Labour

by Justin Marsh
July 30, 2025
0

Nigel Farage is “on the side” of predators like Jimmy Savile with his criticism of the Online Safety Act, the technology secretary has suggested.  Peter Kyle, the secretary of state for science,...

Michael Gove awarded peerage in Sunak’s resignation resignation honours list

Lord Alton: ‘Peers have a duty to scrutinise the flawed assisted suicide bill’

by Justin Marsh
July 26, 2025
0

Throughout my time in parliament, first in the House of Commons, and now in the House of Lords, assisted suicide has been a subject of serious and sustained debate. My views are well known,...

Ben Goldsborough: ‘Reform’s prison plan is a sick joke – and criminals are the ones laughing’

Ben Goldsborough: ‘Reform’s prison plan is a sick joke – and criminals are the ones laughing’

by Justin Marsh
July 24, 2025
0

If you think Reform UK are the hard-men of law and order, think again. Behind the tough-guy act is a soft-touch scam that would be funny — if it weren’t so dangerous....

Next Post
Hidden iPhone feature is a ‘game changer’ for international travel

Hidden iPhone feature is a ‘game changer’ for international travel

Popular News

The surprise strengthening of Rachel Reeves

The surprise strengthening of Rachel Reeves

August 5, 2025
Experts on what to do now if you think you Due Car Finance Compensation

Experts on what to do now if you think you Due Car Finance Compensation

August 5, 2025
This ‘incredible’ road will leave you both amazed and terrified

This ‘incredible’ road will leave you both amazed and terrified

August 5, 2025
Dotdash Meredith (now People Inc) says premium ads up as programmatic declines

Dotdash Meredith (now People Inc) says premium ads up as programmatic declines

August 5, 2025
One year of Labour and Europe — why the government must go further on EU reset 

One year of Labour and Europe — why the government must go further on EU reset 

August 3, 2025
New 1,250hp Corvette Zr1x Makes History at the Nurburgring

New 1,250hp Corvette Zr1x Makes History at the Nurburgring

August 2, 2025
The world’s funniest country revealed — and Brits are way off the mark

The world’s funniest country revealed — and Brits are way off the mark

August 2, 2025
UK Herald

All Rights Reserved © UK HERALD - The Voice of UK

Important Links

  • Publish Your article
  • Editorial Policy
  • Contact
  • Advertise

...

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • UK News
  • Business
  • Science
  • National
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Sports
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Food

All Rights Reserved © UK HERALD - The Voice of UK