LONDON: Ban and restrictions on a range of polluting single-use plastic items came into force from Sunday, October 1, as part of the UK Government’s action to tackle litter and protect the environment from pollution, according to a statement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
“This new ban is the next big step in our mission to crack down on harmful plastic waste. It will protect the environment and help to cut litter – stopping plastic pollution dirtying our streets and threatening our wildlife,” declared Environment Minister Rebecca Pow.
Businesses, including retailers, takeaway, food vendors, the hospitality industry, etc., will now not sell single-use plastic cutlery, balloon sticks or polystyrene cups and food containers in England, the statement added.
“Hospitality businesses have made huge strides in reducing their plastic usage and that progress has resulted in the vast majority of venues already eliminating singleuse cutlery from their operations, a crucial part of our ambitions to reach net zero,” according to UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls.
The Government has set out plans to drive up the repair and reuse of existing materials and increase recycling, including via the ‘Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste’ programme announced in July.
This brings together a range of measures backed by government funding to help keep products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value, in turn growing the economy and boosting employment.
