Keiron Roberts

A new ban prohibits businesses in England from selling some single-use plastic products. Freepik2/Shutterstock

October 2, 2023

New single‑use plastic ban takes effect in England – here’s why its impact may be limited

Antaya March, University of Portsmouth; Cressida Bowyer, University of Portsmouth, and Keiron Roberts, University of Portsmouth

The new ban will raise awareness about the plastic crisis. But failing to provide viable alternatives may simply displace the problem, instead of addressing it

Informal workers earning very little carry out most of the world’s recycling. EPA-EFE/Monirul Alam

May 30, 2023

Plastic recycling is failing – here’s how the world must respond

Cressida Bowyer, University of Portsmouth; Keiron Roberts, University of Portsmouth, and Stephanie Northen, University of Portsmouth

Making less plastic and reusing what exists should be the priority.

Discarded clothing is responsible for millions of tonnes of plastic waste each year. Yudhistira99/Shutterstock

May 24, 2023

Biodegradable plastic in clothing doesn’t break down nearly as quickly as hoped – new research

Keiron Roberts, University of Portsmouth; Fay Couceiro, University of Portsmouth, and Muhammad Ali, University of Portsmouth

Polylactic acid – a popular bioplastic – does not readily break down when released into the ocean, and could disrupt marine ecosystems

Elizabeth McDaniel/Unsplash

December 9, 2021

COVID litter: we mapped discarded masks and gloves in 11 countries with the help of citizen science

Keiron Roberts, University of Portsmouth; Ian Williams, University of Southampton, and Simon Kolstoe, University of Portsmouth

Masks are back in wider use in the UK and elsewhere. Our research highlights the need to dispose of them correctly.

Surfers Against Sewage protest effluent discharge into coastal waters. Ciaran McCrickard/PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo

July 15, 2021

Why are water companies dumping raw sewage in Britain’s rivers and coastal seas?

Peter Cruddas, University of Portsmouth and Keiron Roberts, University of Portsmouth

Victorian-era engineering is struggling under decades of underinvestment.

Fotos593 / shutterstock

September 17, 2020

The ocean is swimming in plastic and it’s getting worse – we need connected global policies now

Steve Fletcher, University of Portsmouth and Keiron Roberts, University of Portsmouth

What groups like the G20 can do to help fix the problem.

Chris Redan/Shutterstock

August 14, 2020

Coronavirus face masks: an environmental disaster that might last generations

Keiron Roberts, University of Portsmouth; Cressida Bowyer, University of Portsmouth; Simon Kolstoe, University of Portsmouth, and Steve Fletcher, University of Portsmouth

As face marks and coverings become compulsory worldwide, littering and their potential impact on the environment increases.

Rubbish piling up in Bristol, March 31 2020. Ben Birchall/PA Wire/PA Images

April 30, 2020

Rubbish is piling up and recycling has stalled – waste systems must adapt

Keiron Roberts, University of Portsmouth; Anne Stringfellow, University of Southampton, and Ian Williams, University of Southampton

Lockdown has exposed real problems with the circular economy which urgently need to be addressed.

8

1