Takeaway single-use plastic items ban comes into force

All businesses – including retailers, takeaways, food vendors and hospitality firms - can now no longer sell certain plastic items.

These include single-use plastic cutlery, balloon sticks, polystyrene cups and food containers.

Meanwhile, the use of single-use plastic plates, trays and bowls will be restricted.

Businesses who breach the new rules could face a fine and an investigation (Image: PA)

Why is the single-use plastic ban happening?

The reason the ban has come in is because the Government are looking to reduce the plastic pollution England produces.

It follows a similar move by Scotland last year, while a ban in Wales comes in later this month.

The Government estimates that people across England use 2.7 billion items of mostly plastic single-use cutlery and 721 million single-use plates every year but only 10% are recycled.

Environment minister Rebecca Pow said: “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.”

Anyone who breaches the law could face a fine and potentially the cost of an investigation.

From 1 October, businesses must no longer supply, sell or offer certain single-use plastic items in England.

This ban will help us deliver towards targets in our Environmental Improvement Plan to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042.

Learn more ⬇

— Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) September 23, 2023

Pre-packed food is exempt from the ban, but there will be incentives for producers to use packaging that can be recycled.

Speaking to Sky News, Steve Hynd from City to Sea, an organisation that campaigns to stop plastic pollution called the ban a "huge step forward".

However, the group as a whole were "disappointed to hear more delays around recycling reforms".

Earlier this year, the government announced it was delaying packaging recycling reforms for a year, from October 2024 to October 2025.

Mr Hynd said recycling reforms were "a really crucial part of tackling the climate crisis and addressing addiction to single-use plastics".