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Symphony Environmental calls for end to use of 'old-fashioned plastic'

Published: 23:10 12 Jan 2018 AEDT

Plastic
34 billion tonnes by 2050?

Symphony Environmental PLC’s (LON:SYM) deputy chairman Michael Stephen has said there is a flaw in the UK government’s plans to tackle the growing problem of plastic waste.

Prime Minister Theresa May this week unveiled a plan to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042, but environmental groups said this deadline is far too distant and proposals too vague.

WATCH: Profit upturn music to Symphony's ears

The PM said it would encourage supermarkets to introduce "plastic-free" aisles, look at taxes on takeaway containers and extend the 5p carrier bag charge as part of a 25–year plan to improve the UK environment.

“We must reduce the demand for plastic, reduce the number of plastics in circulation and improve our recycling rates,” said May.

Stephen, though, said the flaw with recycling plastic is that once it has escaped into the open environment, and especially into the oceans, it cannot be collected for recycling.

“For this reason, we should stop using old-fashioned plastic,” he told Sky News.

His comments echoed a blog post he published on Symphony's site in December.

Symphony has developed a technology to upgrade plastic so that it biodegrades at the end of its useful life.

The molecular structure is dismantled so that it is no longer a plastic.

READ: Symphony Environmental raises 2017 profit guidance again

Ordinary plastic can be upgraded with the technology at little or no extra cost using existing machinery, he added.

Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have already legislated to require the use of upgraded plastic, and Symphony believes the UK and EU should do the same.

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