GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCE BAN ON PLASTIC MICROBEADS FROM CLEANING


PRODUCTS In a bid to cut down on ocean pollution, the government have announced plans to ban plastic microbeads found in some cleaning products as of next year.


The announcement was made amid growing concern that these small pieces of plastic, found in some handsoaps and body washes, as well as toothpaste and some cosmetics, are causing pollution to the ocean and damaging marine life.


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CLEANING MACHINES In a bid to achieve more sustainable public cleaning and waste collection services, a proposal has been submitted in Singapore for driverless vehicles to clean the streets and clear rubbish.


A request for information regarding the design and development of such vehicles has been jointly issued by the country’s National Environment Agency and Ministry of Transport, as they look to utilise new technology to improve the productivity of public cleaning.


In a joint statement from the two agencies, they said: “In the longer term, boosting the productivity levels in the delivery of public services will bring about cost and time savings, and better deployment of manpower resources.”


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Andrea Leadsom, Environment Secretary, said the move was needed in order to protect sea life. She said: “Most people would be dismayed to know the face scrub or toothpaste they use was causing irreversible damage to the environment, with billions of indigestible plastic pieces poisoning sea creatures.


“Adding plastic to products like face washes and body scrubs is wholly unnecessary when harmless alternatives can be used.”


Following the announcement, a consultation process will be launched on banning these microbeads from products in Britain later this year, with the intention that they will be completely removed by the end of 2017. This echoes a move in the US to ban their use in cosmetics.


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So far, 25 toiletries and cosmetic companies in the UK have taken voluntary steps to phase out microbeads, while Waitrose said it would stop stocking such products earlier this year.


The decision to ban microbeads has been warmly welcomed by marine conservationists, as Carrie Hume, Marine Conservation Society Director, said: “The government, the public and campaigners are all in agreement that it isn’t acceptable to harm marine life by including microbeads in these products.


“We welcome this announcement; it is a big step forward in tackling microplastic pollution and demonstrates strong leadership from the government. We are excited by this policy direction and the broad scope of the forthcoming consultation.”


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Photo: The Straits Times


The agencies added that the adoption of this new technology is in line with the Committee of Autonomous Road Transport for Singapore’s vision of deploying self-driving technology, and would be ‘essential to achieving more sustainable public cleaning services’.


The expectation for these new machines is to operate between 10pm and 5am, with a maximum speed of 25kph, and to be quiet – generating less than 50 decibels of noise. The vehicles would be required to vacuum, sweep and brush around tree roots, uneven surfaces and broken tiles.


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