Analysis
Government’s ban on single-use plastics in England to start in October
The government has announced that a range of polluting single-use plastics will be banned in England. Simon King reports
cups and food containers. This ban will be introduced from October 2023. From October, people won’t be able to buy these products from any business – this includes retailers, takeaways, food vendors and the hospitality industry. Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said plastic is a scourge which blights our streets and beautiful countryside and I am determined that we shift away from a single-use culture.
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Ms Pow said: “By introducing a ban later this year we are doubling down on our commitment to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. We will also be pressing ahead with our ambitious plans for a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and consistent recycling collections in England.
“It is expected that banning these items will have a significant impact in reducing plastic waste and littering in England. Plastic cutlery, for instance, was in the top 15 most littered items in the country by count in 2020.”
Defra highlighted that previous bans, such as banning straws, stirrers and cotton buds, have reduced the damage from these plastics. Ms Pow said: “Before we banned these products, it was estimated straws, stirrers and cotton buds collectively contributed to around 5.7% of marine litter. After our ban, the Great British Beach Clean 2021 reported cotton bud sticks had moved out of the UK’s top ten most common beach litter items.”
Defra said it is considering further measures around other commonly littered and problematic plastic items, including wet wipes, tobacco filters and sachets, following a call for evidence on this issue.
“Future steps that could be explored include
banning plastic in these items, and mandatory labelling on packaging to help consumers dispose of these items correctly, Ms Pow said. “A new research project will also look into the impact of wet wipes on blockages in the sewage system, and will inform any future policy actions.” The ban will not apply to plates, trays, and bowls that are used as packaging in shelf-ready pre-packaged food items, as these will be included in Defra’s plans for an Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme, which will incentivise producers to use packaging that can be recycled and meet higher recycling targets. This would include pre-packaged salad bowls and bowls filled with food at the counter of a takeaway. Matt Hood, managing director of Co-op Food, said: “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 food to go, offering wooden forks instead.
“We were the first retailer to ensure all of our own brand food and drink packaging is 100% recyclable through our in store soft plastic recycling scheme, with all the soft plastics returned being processed in the UK.” Mr Hood added: “I welcome today’s announcement, and believe we must all continue to work together if we are to combat the climate emergency, and have an environment we are proud to pass on to future generations.” Richard Swannell, interim chief of WRAP, said the organisation is delighted to see these efforts being backed up by regulation, which will accelerate efforts to keep plastic out of the environment.
“These plans build on our previous efforts to eliminate avoidable plastic waste, including Plastic Packaging Tax in April 2022 – a tax of £200 per tonne on plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into the UK, that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic,” Mr Swannell said.
he ban will include single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, and certain types of polystyrene
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February 2023
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