Plastic straws and cotton buds could be banned in England as part of the government’s bid to cut plastic waste.

Announcing a consultation on a possible ban ministers said 8.5bn plastic straws were thrown away in the UK every year.

The prime minster said plastic waste was “one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world”.

And Theresa May will urge leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which starts later, to follow the UK’s lead in tackling the problem.

The Queen will formally open the summit at an event at Buckingham Palace attended by prime ministers and presidents from the 53 states that make up the organisation.

Mrs May said the UK was a “world leader” on tackling plastic waste, highlighting the charges that have been introduced for plastic bags, the ban on microbeads and the announcement in March of a consultation on introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers in England.

“Alongside our domestic action, this week we are rallying Commonwealth countries to join us in the fight against marine plastics,” she said.

“The Commonwealth is a unique organisation, with a huge diversity of wildlife, environments and coastlines.

“Together we can effect real change so that future generations can enjoy a natural environment that is healthier than we currently find it.”

‘Turning the tide’

Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who trailed the idea of a banning plastic straws in February, will launch the consultation later this year.

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He said: “We’ve already seen a number of retailers, bars and restaurants stepping up to the plate and cutting plastic use.

“However, it’s only through government, businesses and the public working together that we will protect our environment for the next generation – we all have a role to play in turning the tide on plastic.”

Greenpeace UK and Friends of the Earth have welcomed the announcement as a “step forward” but both also warned more action would be needed.

Greenpeace’s Louise Edge said other non-recyclable “problem plastics” should also be banned at the earliest opportunity and retailers must take responsibility to phase out single-use plastics in their own products.

And FotE’s Julian Kirby said the “only long-term solution is a complete phase-out of all but the most essential plastics”.

The news was welcomed by the Green Party, but co-leader Jonathan Bartley said the government “must see these plans through to action, and bring forward the utterly un-ambitious target of eliminating all avoidable plastic waste by 2042”.

Earlier this week, Mrs May announced the new Clean Oceans Alliance – an agreement between the UK, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Ghana, which pledged to ban microbeads cosmetics and cut plastic bag use by 2021.

To fund it, she also assigned £61.4m for global research and to improve waste management in developing countries.

‘Emotional’ event

The Queen will be joined by other members of the Royal family at the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on Thursday morning.

BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said it would be “emotional” for some, because it could be the last CHOGM the Queen opens – she has stopped travelling long distances and the event is unlikely to return to London for some time.

“The Commonwealth has been nurtured by the Queen over the decades and it holds a special place in her affections,” he said.

“That affection is reflected among the heads of government, who often send more junior representative to the meeting – this time around it is prime ministers and presidents.”

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A number of events have already taken place ahead of the first official day of the CHOGM, including a Commonwealth Youth Forum, attended by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Mrs May also met Caribbean leaders on Tuesday to apologise for the fiasco around threats of deportation to the Windrush generation, who legally settled in the UK 70 years ago.