October marks the end of the line for many single-use plastics like plastic plates and cutlery in England. Under the new ban, local authorities play a unique role, both as enforcers and monitors.
If each of the 2.7 billion pieces of single-use cutlery used each year in England were placed end-to-end, they would circle the world more than eight times. When you consider that in 2020, plastic cutlery also made it into the top 15 for the UK’s most-littered items, it is not surprising that the government has chosen to introduce a ban.
From 1 October, retailers, take-aways and food vendors will no longer be able to sell plastic cutlery, balloon sticks and polystyrene cups and food containers; with plastic plates, bowls and trays also banned in some circumstances. While the introduction of the ban has received media attention, the role of local authorities as enforcers has been less well-publicised.
For waste departments, the new regulations are expected to have a positive impact. When the government introduced a similar ban for items such as cotton buds, it led to a significant reduction in the number of these items appearing as litter on British beaches.
As with the previous ban, local authorities will be tasked with making sure that businesses in their area adhere to the law, so it is important to understand which department will be responsible.
Until the final guidance is released, it is not clear exactly how the rules will impact plastic plates, bowls and trays. It will be critical for local authorities to be part of the decision-making process, and also to ensure that they receive the finalised guidance in good time. This will enable them to determine whether businesses that put these items onto the market after October 2023 are acting legitimately.
The system will work more effectively if waste teams liaise with the enforcement department. Waste managers will be the first to gauge whether the ruling is being followed. If banned items continue to dominate litter collections, this should act as a red flag to show that advice – or civil sanctions fines – are necessary.
So far, the ban appears to be a popular move. Of the 53,329 responses to the Consultation on Proposals to Ban Commonly Littered Single-use Plastic Items in England, 95 per cent of responses by members of the public and NGOs were supportive. Twenty per cent of business responses opposed the ban, while others were supportive of the proposals but highlighted areas for further consideration, to make sure the bans do not have unintended consequences.
Evidence suggests that a ban will help to reduce litter, which can only be a positive for the environment.
