The brand new rules, which have been introduced by Secretary of State for Atmosphere, Meals and Rural Affairs Therese Coffey, in January 2023 and got here into drive this month (1 October), embrace the banning of single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, and sure forms of polystyrene cups and meals containers.
This impacts a variety of companies in England together with retailers, takeaways, meals distributors and the hospitality trade.
The ban won’t apply to single-use plastic plates, trays and bowls used as packaging in shelf-ready pre-packaged meals gadgets as these shall be included within the plans for an prolonged producer accountability scheme, which is geared toward incentivising producers to make use of much less packaging and meet increased recycling targets.
The transfer follows Scotland that launched its personal model of a ban on using single-use plastic gadgets in June 2022 whereas Wales is implementing its personal laws on 30 October 2023.
Atmosphere minister Rebecca Pow stated this ban would assist defend the surroundings.
“This builds on world-leading bans on straws, stirrers and cotton buds, our single-use service bag cost and our plastic packaging tax, serving to us on our journey to eradicate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042,” she stated.
Enterprise could face fines if they’re discovered to be breaking the legislation with native authorities accountable for finishing up inspections and enforcement. In England it’s a mounted penalty superb of £200, whereas in Scotland companies can face a superb of as much as £5,000. In Wales its draft steerage stated that companies might face magistrates court docket and a limiteless superb.
The Authorities stated that it engaged intently with trade, related commerce our bodies, native authorities and Buying and selling Requirements officers to organize for the brand new guidelines.
Nevertheless, the Native Authorities Affiliation (LGA) was vital of the prices confronted by councils of implementing the ban.
Cllr Darren Rodwell, Atmosphere spokesperson for the LGA, added: “Nevertheless, we’re involved that some native companies and shoppers usually are not conscious of the upcoming ban on these supplies and would encourage everybody to check out the supplies impacted by it.”
In the meantime, Helen Chook, head of Materials Programs at WRAP, stated: “Single-use plastics dominate our world, and have even turn out to be embedded into the planet itself. This ban is a vital second in tackling the scourge of plastic air pollution.”
UKHospitality chief government Kate Nicholls stated: “Hospitality companies have made enormous strides in lowering their plastic utilization and that progress has resulted within the overwhelming majority of venues already eliminating single-use cutlery from their operations, an important a part of our ambitions to succeed in web zero.”
There are additionally plans for the implementation of a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers overlaying England, Wales and Northern Eire, in 2025. Scotland’s implementation has been delayed till October 2025.
