The UK government has confirmed that it will ban single-use items such as plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene trays in England, following similar moves by Scotland and Wales. While it is not clear when the ban will come into effect, the move has been welcomed by campaigners who are calling for a wider-ranging plastic reduction strategy.
In England alone, 1.1 billion single-use plates and over four billion pieces of plastic cutlery are used every year. However, just 10% of these items are recycled. Single-use plastic waste often does not decompose and can pollute soil and waterways. The new ban will mainly target single-use items relating to takeaway food and drink.
Although the ban has been welcomed, campaigners are calling for further action to reduce plastic use, including a proper reuse and refill scheme and stringent targets. Megan Randles, political campaigner for Greenpeace UK, said, “We’re dealing with a plastic flood, and this is like reaching for a mop instead of turning off the tap.”
This latest measure, which is set to be introduced after a long consultation, does not cover items found in supermarkets or shops, which the government has stated will be addressed by other means.
The ban follows the introduction of similar laws in Scotland and a ban on single-use plastic straws, stirrers and plastic stemmed cotton buds in England in 2020. Wales has also approved laws for a similar ban, which will come into force later in 2023.
The move has been praised by Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey, who stated that the ban will help protect the environment for future generations. She also reiterated the government’s commitment to tackle the issue of single-use plastics, saying, “I am determined to drive forward action to tackle this issue head on. We’ve already taken major steps in recent years – but we know there is more to do, and we have again listened to the public’s calls.”
Although it is unclear when the ban will be implemented, the government’s commitment to tackle the issue of single-use plastic items, as well as the introduction of similar bans in other parts of the UK, is a positive step forward in the fight against plastic pollution.
