Government announces single-use plastic item ban date

By Tony Corbin in Industry News 16th January 2023

Elaborating on the previous announcement of an upcoming ban on single-use plastic items, the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed that legislation (subject to completion of parliamentary processes) banning the supply of single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, expanded and extruded polystyrene food and drinks containers, including cups, will come into effect in England from October 2023.

In its summary on the government website, it said: “Part of our intention with this ban is to work towards the government’s ambition from the 25 Year Environment Plan to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042. We would like to see a shift away from single-use items of all materials to reusable or refillable alternatives where possible. Where this isn’t possible, the items should be recyclable.”

Steve Hynd, policy manager at City to Sea, said: “We finally now have confirmation that this ban that we’ve spent years campaigning for will come into force in October 2023. This is over 2 years after the rest of the European Union implemented a similar ban.

“Even if it is playing catch-up, it is also a step in the right direction. These are some of the most polluting single-use plastic items most commonly found in our rivers, oceans, and on our beaches. But for England to be true “global leaders” in tackling plastic pollution like this government claims to be, we need them to go much further.

“We need to see an overarching strategy for tackling plastic pollution that commits to a legally binding reduction of single-use plastics.”

Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet, said: “With this announcement, I applaud Defra for taking steps forward to tackle the plastic crisis we face, but we are missing a very important piece of plastic that simply shouldn’t exist any longer.

“The plastic sachet, the ultimate symbol of our grab and go, convenience-addicted lifestyle, should be the next target in Defra’s sights. 855 billion sachets are used annually, never to be recycled, infecting our environment with plastic chemicals.

“If we ban sachets, the innovation and new delivery systems that will replace them will create so much opportunity and even wider solutions. 12 months ago our government committed to such a ban. Let’s make this a true world first for the UK instead of just following Europe’s faster footsteps.

“I call on Defra to build upon its work and sack the sachet with a comprehensive rethink on how we use natural resource materials. Remember, plastic is a fossil fuel, it is Plan B for big oil and we need to dramatically reduce the misuse of this toxic and indestructible material.”