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Nursery group bans use of glitter to protect environment

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Tops Day Nurseries has stopped ordering glitter for arts and crafts after learning about the detrimental effect the microplastic is having on the planet.

Cheryl Hadland, managing director of Tops, a group of 19 settings, explained, ‘We have learnt a lot about the ecological dangers we produce through our day-to-day actions and have recently discovered an unexpected item that has already had a detrimental effect on the environment – glitter.

‘Glitter microplastics are an increasing problem. These tiny, shimmering specs of microplastic are virtually impossible to remove from the environment once there. When we’ve finished using plastic glitter for play, in decorating a card, sprinkling it into playdough or glue or painting with it, it goes into a bin or into the sink. It can’t be recycled because it isn’t practical to do so, it’s too small to separate out.’

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