In a move to combat plastic pollution and protect the environment, the UK government has announced a ban on a range of single-use plastics in England.
Beginning in October 2023, the ban will include items such as single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers. The ban will apply to all businesses, including retailers, takeaways, food vendors, and the hospitality industry.
According to estimates, England alone uses 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery, the majority of which are plastic, and 721 million single-use plates per year, with only 10% being recycled. Plastic pollution takes hundreds of years to break down and causes severe damage to oceans, rivers, and land, while also being a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey stated, "We all know the absolutely devastating impacts that plastic can have on our environment and wildlife. We have listened to the public and these new single-use plastics bans will continue our vital work to protect the environment for future generations." She also highlighted previous measures taken by the government such as banning microbeads and restricting the use of straws, stirrers, and cotton buds, as well as the carrier bag charge which has led to a 97% reduction in sales of these bags in main supermarkets.
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow added, "Plastic is a scourge which blights our streets and beautiful countryside and I am determined that we shift away from a single-use culture. By introducing a ban later this year we are doubling down on our commitment to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste."
The ban is expected to have a significant impact on reducing plastic waste and littering in England, with plastic cutlery being one of the top 15 most littered items in the country in 2020. Previous bans on straws, stirrers, and cotton buds have also led to a reduction in damage caused by these plastics.
In addition to the ban, the government is also looking at further measures for other commonly littered and problematic plastic items, including wet wipes, tobacco filters, and sachets, following a call for evidence on this issue. Possible future steps include banning plastic in these items and mandatory labelling on packaging to assist consumers in disposing of them correctly. A new research project will also investigate the impact of wet wipes on blockages in the sewage system and inform any future policy actions.
The ban will not apply to plates, trays, and bowls that are used as packaging for pre-packaged food items, as these will be included in plans for an Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme, which will encourage producers to use packaging that can be recycled and meet higher recycling targets.
The news of the ban has been met with support from various organizations and businesses, with Matt Hood, Co-op Food MD stating, "We have been at the forefront of eradicating unnecessary plastic, so it is encouraging to see this ban being introduced and we have already removed plastic cutlery from our stores."
The ban on single-use plastics is a significant step towards reducing plastic pollution and protecting the environment. With the support of the public and businesses, the government is committed to eliminating all avoidable plastic waste and creating a more sustainable future for generations to come.
Photo by Jasmin Sessler on Unsplash
