Plastic

And other stories from the stranger side of life

The Southeast Asian nation is burning mountains of imported plastic waste

Inventor’s son says plastic bags were originally designed to save planet, despite disastrous impact today

Your guide to the best columns and commentary on Friday 2 August

Michael Gove will ban straws, stirrers and cotton buds in crackdown on pollution

New report reveals that inadequate disposal of plastic may contribute to a million deaths worldwide each year

The month-long trial will see loose apples and avocados appearing in Extra stores in Watford and Swindon

EU regulator reveals hundreds of products available in the UK contain chemicals that may cause cancer and infertility

Facts about environment, Jaffa Cakes and Kylie Jenner star in list produced by the Royal Statistical Society

‘Gammon’, ‘Gaslight’, ‘Backstop’ and ‘MeToo’ all make the annual list as well

International study finds traces of plastics in the faeces of every human tested

Wildlife centre operates to save animals’ tails that became entwined with each other and their nest

Millions of tons of UK waste sent abroad may end up in landfill, warns watchdog

Single-use bags ‘pose a threat to wellbeing of humans and animals’, says Islamist leader

Morrisons has ditched plastic produce bags for paper - but the environmental benefits are far from clear-cut

New research uncovers microplastics in every corner of the planet

Government acts amid reports of sewer blockages and clogged riverbeds

‘We need to stop right now,’ says company’s owner ahead of total ban on takeaway cups

Breakthrough follows experiments on plastic-eating bacteria found in Japan