Tuesday 31 August 2021

Single-use plastic plates to be banned in England

The government has unveiled plans to launch a consultation on a single-use plastic plate and cutlery ban in autumn.

That could mean plates, cutlery and polystyrene cups could become a thing of the past.

The proposals aim to encourage businesses to use more sustainable alternatives and prevent plastic waste from polluting natural habitats.

Official data suggests each person uses an estimated 18 single-use plastic plates and 37 single-use plastic items of cutlery each year in England.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: "We’ve all seen the damage that plastic does to our environment. It is right that we put in place measures that will tackle the plastic carelessly strewn across our parks and green spaces and washed up on beaches."

From 1st October last year, the ban on plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers came into effect in the UK.

Starting from 21st May, the government increased the plastic bag charge to 10p as an additional measure to reduce the amount of plastic waste.