Single-use plastics cutlery and plates could be banned in England
4.25 billion single-use cutlery is used in the England each year
Single use plastic plates and cutlery are just some of the plastic items that could be banned in England as part of a public consultation.
It is the latest move from Government in an effort to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste.
Some problematic single-use plastic in question that could be phased out include plastic plates, cutlery, expanded and extruded polystyrene cups, as well as food and beverage containers.
The Government is also launching a separate call for evidence to address other sources of plastic pollution, where they will ask stakeholders for views on tackling commonly littered plastics such as wet wipes, tobacco filters, sachets and other single-use cups.
4.25 billion items of single-use cutlery a year
According to estimates, England uses 1.1 billion single-use plates and 4.25 billion items of single-use cutlery — most of which are plastic — per year, but only 10% are recycled upon disposal.
Additionally, the UK uses 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups per year, while plastic sachets are often not recycled due to their small size, which makes it hard to segregate and clean them.
Future policy measures that could be explored include banning plastic in these items, and mandatory labelling on packaging to help consumers dispose of these items correctly.
The Government has said that they will consider how a move to sustainable alternatives can be achieved without unfairly impacting on consumers.
Putting responsibility 'at manufacturers' doors'
The Government will also examine how they can 'put the responsibility firmly at manufacturers’ doors to make sure they are doing everything they can to tackle single-use plastics', including litter from cigarette butts.
Many companies are already taking action to cut this avoidable waste, with many shops already stocking alternatives to conventional plastic wipes, and today’s move will urge more to do the same.
Under proposals in a 12-week public consultation, businesses and consumers will need to move towards more sustainable alternatives.
"It's time we left our throwaway culture behind"
Environment Act powers could be used to place new charges on single-use items to end throwaway culture and incentivise consumers towards sustainable alternatives.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said: "It’s time we left our throwaway culture behind once and for all. Through our world-leading Environment Act, we will reduce waste and make better use of our resources, helping us to build back greener and leave the environment in a better state than we found it.
“These new plans represent the next major step in eradicating the use of problematic plastics that pollute our natural world.”
Following the huge success of the 5p charge on single-use carrier bags, which cut consumption in the main supermarkets by 95% since 2015, the Government increased the minimum charge to 10p and extended it to all retailers, ensuring that billions more bags were taken out of circulation.
Hundreds of years in the environment for a short single use
A plastic item used for a few minutes can persist in the environment for hundreds of years and endanger wildlife and habitats.
When broken down into microplastics, it reaches our soils, waterways, ocean and food chains within them.
Around the world, more than one million birds and over 100,000 sea mammals and turtles die every year from eating or getting tangled in plastic waste.
Steve Hynd, Policy Manager of environmental organisation City to Sea said: “Today’s announcement to ban some of the most polluting single-use plastic is hugely welcome. Almost 100,000 people signed our petition earlier this year calling on Government to take urgent action and we’re pleased to see the public’s concerns being taken seriously.
“There is a long journey ahead in tackling plastic pollution, but this is a positive and important first step.”