Sophie Robinson
Thérèse Coffey, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is set to place a ban on single-use plastic plates, cutlery, polystyrene cups, and food containers from October 2023.
This policy comes two years after the government banned plastic straws, cotton buds, and microbeads in some cosmetic products in England.
It is estimated that England uses 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery per year, including 721 million single-use plates. However, only 10% of this total is recycled.
Coffey has said: “We all know the absolutely devastating impacts that plastic can have on our environment and wildlife. We have listened to the public and these new single-use plastics bans will continue our vital work to protect the environment for future generations.”
“Coffey’s plans have been met with some criticism from activists who say that this action is not enough.”
The government expects that introducing these bans will significantly reduce plastic waste and littering, especially because it has been found that plastic cutlery was in the top 15 most littered items in 2020.
However, Coffey’s plans have been met with some criticism from activists who say that this action is not enough, as replacing single-use plastics with other single-use materials only helps to an extent.
The ban also only applies to plastic used in takeaway outlets and not in supermarkets or shops. Nina Schrank, a senior campaigner for Greenpeace, has said: “It is a step in the right direction. But it is a small step.”
Ms Schrank has said that most of the largest sources of plastic waste are not affected by the bans, including food and grocery packaging.
“Greenpeace UK are now calling for the government to set a target of reducing all single-use plastic by 50% by 2025.”
Activists have further argued that this move has come well after similar measures implemented by England’s neighbours, as Coffey has been pressured by the Scottish and Welsh governments to follow in their footsteps.
Wales is currently ranked as the third best domestic recycler in the world and was the first part of the UK to legislate against a comprehensive list of single-use plastics.
Similarly, in Scotland, a ban came fully into action in August 2022 restricting the use of plastic cutlery, plates and beverage stirrers, as well as food containers, cups, and lids made from polystyrene.
Greenpeace UK is now calling for the government to set a target of reducing all single-use plastic by 50% by 2025 and make 25% of packaging recyclable by the same year.
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