These everyday items could soon be banned in the fight against climate change
Plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene cups are set to be banned by the UK government as the pressure to reduce plastic pollution continues.
The single-use plastic items, which has been a controversial conversation over the years, will soon have plans to be “phased” out and replaced with biodegradable alternatives.
The UK government banned plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds in 2020 in a bid to reduce plastic pollution waste. Now, the decision to ban other popular items is set to be unveiled by the environment secretary, Thérèse Coffey, in the coming weeks.
The decision comes after a public consultation held by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) from November 2021 to February this year. Plans to ban single-use plastic and polystyrene containers were delayed due to other political debates in Westminster.
More than four billion items of cutlery and over one billion plates involving single-use plastic are disposed of every year in England. Despite the effort to be recyclable, the majority of waste still ends up in landfill or as litter.
A Defra spokesperson said: “We are determined to go further and faster to reduce, reuse, and recycle more of our resources in order to transform our waste industry and deliver on our commitments in the ambitious 25-year environment plan. Cutting our reliance on single-use plastics is crucial.
“We will be responding soon to a consultation on further bans of plastic plates, cutlery, balloon sticks and expanded and extruded polystyrene cups.”
Other Governments already have various plans in place – Scotland became the first part of the UK to ban single-use plastics in June 2022, with plastic cutlery, straws, drink stirrers and polystyrene food containers all covered by the ban.
Wales also banned single-use plastic this year, and was one of the first countries to charge 5p for plastic bags in 2011.
Plans have also been made to ban hotels in the European Union from giving complimentary mini toiletries to their guests. The decision once again comes in a bid to reduce excessive waste and to fight against climate change.
A report by the Commission says: “Without action, the EU would see a further 19 percent increase in packaging waste by 2030, and for plastic packaging waste even a 46 percent increase.
“The new rules aim to stop this trend. For consumers, they will ensure reusable packaging options, get rid of unnecessary packaging, limit overpackaging, and provide clear labels to support correct recycling.”
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