I've experimented with Bismuth/Tin sold as a lead free substitute for model soldiers. It works okay but is fiercely expensive compared to (free) lead pipes salvaged from my neighbours extension! There's a firm in the USA that make an alternative to lead which a lot of States have banned already. As far as I am aware it's not readily available in the UK yet.

I am pretty certain the ban will come, I may be wrong but after all, anything with 'an environment issue' attached to the Bill will have millions of people rallying around it. I would just like to be ready for the nay-sayers when it happens. One small point, has anyone seen the YouTube video of the Lithium miners in China? And they complain about lead??