From October 1, 2023, England will ban a range of single-use plastic products, such as cutlery, plates and bowls, in an effort to limit plastic pollution. A similar ban has already been implemented in Scotland, and England has banned single-use plastic straws, stir sticks and plastic swab sticks in 2020.
1. The ban on these items will include:
Online and over-the-counter sales and supplies, items from new and existing stock, all types of single-use plastics, including biodegradable, compostable and recyclable, items made in whole or in part from plastics, including coatings or liners
"Single use" means that the item can only be used once for its original purpose.
2. How to prepare for a ban
You can get your business ready for the new rules by:
Use up existing stock by October 1, find reusable alternatives to disposable items, use different materials for disposable items
If you continue to supply banned single-use plastic products after Oct. 1, you may be fined.
There are some exceptions to the ban, depending on the item.
3. Plates, bowls and trays
As of October 1, you may not serve single-use plastic plates, trays and bowls to the public.
Exemptions:
You can still provide disposable plastic plates, bowls and trays if any of the following conditions are met.
You offer them to another business and the items are packaged (pre-filled or filled at the point of sale)
Examples of such packaging include:
Pre-loaded salad bowls or ready-to-eat meals in trays, a take-out counter filled with plates, trays used to deliver food
4. Tableware and balloon sticks
As of October 1, you may not serve single-use plastic cutlery or balloon sticks.
There are no exceptions to this ban.
5. Polystyrene food and beverage containers
As of October 1, you may not serve ready-to-eat foods and beverages in polystyrene containers. This includes polystyrene cups. Polystyrene is expanded and extruded polystyrene.
Exemptions:
If further processing is required before serving, you can still serve food or drinks in polystyrene containers. For example, further preparation may mean: adding water, cooking in the microwave, baking
6. Check
Local authorities will conduct inspections to ensure that these regulations are being followed.
Inspectors may: visit a store or store, conduct test purchases, talk to employees, ask to see records
If you break the law, the inspector can order your business to pay for the cost of the investigation.
Complaints about a business breaking the law can be made to Trading Standards.
