In England, a law came into force on 1 October, banning the use of plastic straws and Q-tips.
The British government decided to protect the environment and clean the oceans from plastic waste. It is yet unknown if the regulation will apply to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland as well.
"We have a responsibility to protect the ocean and the environment for future generations," Environment Secretary George Eustice said.
According to British experts, the United Kingdom uses an estimated 4.7 billion plastic straws, 316 million plastic stirrers, and 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds each year. All of this waste eventually finds its way into the ocean.
