Single-use plastic cutlery: Items could be banned in England | Messenger Newspapers

2022-12-20 13:37:38 By : Mr. Andy Luo

Items such as plastic cutlery and plates as well as polystyrene cups could end up being banned in England.

It comes after the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) held a public consultation on a plan to ban the supply of single-use plastic items and polystyrene food and drink containers.

Environment secretary Therese Coffey is planning to phase the items out for biodegradable alternatives, the Financial Times has reported.

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.

Polystyrene cups are among the items considered on being banned (Image: PA)

“Cutting our reliance on single-use plastics is crucial.

“Having already banned single-use straws, stirrers and cotton buds and ended the sale of billons of single-use bags with our plastic bag charge, we will be responding soon to a consultation on further bans of plastic plates, cutlery, balloon sticks and expanded and extruded polystyrene cups.”

READ MORE: Wales to be first UK nation to ban single-use plastics

The department is considering how to tackle other items involving single-use plastic including wet wipes and tobacco filters, the Financial Times added.

Only about a tenth of the 300mn tonnes of plastic waste produced globally each year is recycled.

The Welsh and Scottish governments have already taken similar action to ban such items.

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