Passengers with hand luggage on flights urged 'make this immediate swap'
If you're carrying liquids on board your flight this summer you will probably still be required to have them in a clear bag.
The rules surrounding taking liquids on board an airplane are set to change soon with UK airports hoping to scrap them this summer. And while some hubs have the technology that allows for liquids to be carried in hand luggage without restriction, the 100ml rule still applies at the moment.
And that means that millions of passengers are packing their liquids into small plastic bags to comply with security protocols. This is only adding to the stark figures that show as many as 235 million single-use plastic bags will be used in 2025.
New data from plastic waste specialists at BusinessWaste.co.uk also showed that a whopping 3.5 billion of these small, sealable bags have used since the rules first came into place in 2006.
And it's easy to see why. There are more than 313 million passengers estimated to use UK airports this year and this means the number of single-use plastic bags used and then thrown away could reach 235 million.
That's enough to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools in just a year in the UK alone. And if the plastic bags used at airports in the last 19 years were laid end to end they would be long enough to take 18 trips around the earth's equator or would equal four times the height of Mount Everest when stacked up.
So passengers are being asked to make a simple switch to reusable plastic bags for their plane trips in a bid to stop the damage done by the single-use pouches which are made from soft plastics which are rarely recyclable.
BusinessWaste said they often end up in landfill where they can take 1,000 years to break down. And as they do, they release tiny particles known as microplastics which pose a threat to both human and animal health.
What can you do?
Be sure to ensure you check the rules of your departure airport. With many now adapting to the new rules, you may not need to consider bagging liquids at all. If you have hold luggage, don't put any liquids in your hand luggage. This removes the need for any little plastic bags and can also save you time at security.
If this isn't an option, BusinessWaste is urging passengers to swap disposable clear plastic bags for reusable ones when travelling through UK airports this summer.
They say the best alternative is to use the wealth of reusable options on the market—just ensure that the dimensions are 20cm x 20cm, it's transparent, carries no more than one litre, matches airport regulations, and that any products can be sealed (by a zipper).
Lastly, you can consider using airside click-and-collect options for toiletries. This is a great way to avoid the high airport prices and skip the need to put liquids in your carry-on bag. You'll save space, money, and help the environment."
Gov.uk says: "Liquids in containers larger than 100ml generally cannot go through security even if the container is only part full. There are some exemptions. Some airports may allow you to take containers of liquid up to 100ml through security in your hand luggage.
"Check with the airport before you travel. Also check the rules at other airports you'll be travelling through - for example on your return journey."
Graham Matthews, plastic waste specialist at BusinessWaste.co.uk, comments: "The plastic bags we use to bring liquids through airports are a huge blight on the environment. While you may only go on holiday once or twice a year, this quickly adds up as the UK now sees around 300 million air passengers a year.
"We're really happy to see the new scanners in place and hope that this reduces the reliance on single-use plastic bags. However, old habits die hard, and many people will be nervous to change to the new system, or find that their return airport still requires liquids to be bagged.
If you do take liquids in your hand luggage, at most airports:
containers must hold no more than 100ml
containers must be in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag, which holds no more than a litre and measures approximately 20cm x 20cm
contents must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be sealed
the bag must not be knotted or tied at the top
you're limited to one plastic bag per person
you must show the bag at the airport security point
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Wales Online
4 days ago
- Wales Online
You won't believe what's buried on the slopes of this historic Welsh hill walk
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The Herald Scotland
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- The Herald Scotland
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Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
English beach town to convert derelict seafront shelters into new tourist attractions
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