The plastic , as well as other single - use plastics , could be banned from use in the country as part of a campaign to combat plastic pollution of the world ’s oceans and rivers . The evidence of the damage that plastics do not just to wildlife and the food chain but to some of the world’s most beautiful places is now widely reported. A referendum on the issue will begin later in 2018 , following the example of Malta which made a similar move in January . UK Prime Minister Theresa May will encourage other Commonwealth heads of government to make similar pledges as they meet in London this week . The oceans are believed to contain an estimated 100 million tonnes of plastic , resulting in the deaths of over 100,000 sea mammals each year .
The plastic , as well as other single - use plastics , could be banned from use in the country as part of a campaign to combat plastic pollution of the world ’s oceans and rivers . A referendum on the issue will begin later in 2018 , following the example of Malta which made a similar move in January . UK Prime Minister Theresa May will encourage other Commonwealth heads of government to make similar pledges as they meet in London this week . The oceans are believed to contain an estimated 100 million tonnes of plastic , resulting in the deaths of over 100,000 sea mammals each year .