Michael Gove suggests ban on plastic straws could be introduced

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has said suggested that a ban on plastic straws could soon come into force.

Gove said "watch this space", when asked about the issue by The Telegraph.

He continued: "If it is bad, then banning it is a good thing. But we have to take a balanced approach towards the EU.

"There are some good things about the EU but one of the things about being inside the EU is that there are some steps that we might to take environmentally but can't yet."

Responding to Mr Gove's comments Frans Timmermans, first vice-president of the European Commission, said legislation on single-use plastics is "coming before the summer", Sky News reported.

Many bars, restaurants and hotels have already banished plastic straws from their sites as the hospitality industry moves to reduce the amount of plastic waste it produces.

Plastic straws can take more than 200 years to break down, with the UK using an estimated 8.5 billion each year.

Chef Luke Holder has launched a #chefsagainstplastic campaign in a bid to reduce the amount of plastic kitchen's produce.

Luke Holder and #chefsagainstplastic: good riddance to bad rubbish >>

Jason Atherton vows to eradicate plastic waste from restaurants >>

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