- England Implements Single-Use Plastic Ban
- Small Businesses Face Transition
- Environmentalists Express Concerns
The use of single-use plastic items, such as trays, bowls, and balloon poles, by stores, restaurants, and food vendors is now prohibited. The ban also covers specific types of plastic cups and containers.
On Sunday, England put a moratorium into effect on single-use plastic plates, cutlery, and specific polystyrene cups and containers. Scotland did this last year, and Wales will follow suit later this month.
The ban extends to disposable plastic trays, bowls, and balloon poles, aligning with the Westminster government’s objective to curb plastic pollution.
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Bally Singh, owner of Hooked Fish and Chips in west London, is faced with the need to transition from polystyrene containers and cups to cardboard alternatives, incurring an annual cost of nearly £1,000. He expressed his perspective, “I support the change; we must prioritize sustainability for our planet, but the transition is challenging for our small business.
“We are required to make a significant and abrupt shift, with limited options available. The cost burden falls on us, as we cannot pass it on to our customers. We’ve already raised our prices due to increasing expenses such as fish, oil, electricity, and gas; how much more can we expect our customers to bear?”
England consumes 2.7 billion plastic cutlery and 721 million plastic plates annually, with barely 10% recycled. On average, an individual utilizes 37 disposable forks and 18 disposable plastic plates annually.
Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey declared the ban in January, emphasizing the significance of addressing plastic’s detrimental impact on the environment and wildlife.
She stated, “We’ve heeded public concerns, and these new prohibitions on single-use plastics will enable us to continue safeguarding the environment for future generations.
“I take pride in our ongoing efforts, including the ban on microbeads, limitations on straws, stirrers, and cotton swabs, and the highly successful carrier bag fee that has reduced supermarket sales by over 97%.”
The ban affects takeaways, food vans, vendors, stalls, and hospitality businesses. Violators may face fines and investigation expenses.
Prepackaged food is exempt from the moratorium, but there will be incentives for producers to employ recyclable packaging.
The government is also contemplating measures to reduce litter from items like moist wipes, tobacco filters, and sachets, among other plastics.
However, recent delays in crucial climate goals have provoked outrage among environmentalists. While acknowledging the ban on plastics as a “significant step forward,” the anti-plastic pollution group City to Sea expressed disappointment over delays in recycling reforms, according to Steve Hynd.
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The government had previously announced a one-year postponement of packaging recycling reforms, shifting the timeline from October 2024 to October 2025.
Last week, Rishi Sunak, in a series of climate policy reversals, rejected proposals for individuals to have seven recycling bins to meet recycling targets.
Mr. Hynd emphasized that recycling reforms constitute a crucial aspect of addressing the climate crisis and reducing reliance on single-use plastics.
