Recently, the UK's environment department announced that a range of single-use plastic products such as cutlery, plates, and bowls would be banned from October 2023. This measure is intended to limit plastic pollution in the country.
According to the BBC, disposable plastic plates, bowls, and trays, as well as certain types of cups and boxes made of polystyrene, will be banned from use and sale in stores, restaurants, hotels, and takeaway food.
The period until October will serve as a transitional adaptation period, during which companies that do not comply with the ban will be fined and held criminally liable for repeated violations.
The UK government took this decision after conducting a public consultation, which received a positive response.
The vast majority of respondents (95%) supported the ban. The government revealed that the UK uses 2.7 billion pieces of disposable tableware each year, most of which are plastic, but only 10% are recycled.
British Environment Secretary Therese Coffey expressed her pride in the efforts made to limit plastic pollution and protect the oceans. She also pointed out that a ban on other plastic products, such as marbles, straws, stir sticks, and cotton swabs, has already been implemented.
She mentioned that sales of plastic bags in supermarkets have plummeted by 97%.
However, the ban will not apply to "pre-packaged dishes and food in buffets" used by the dishes and trays. The government intends to implement a separate program to incentivize and raise recycling standards for manufacturers.
The report said the British government is also studying new initiatives targeting plastic flowers, coffee filters, and various pouches.
Environmental groups congratulated the British government on the plastic ban but argued that more needs to be done. They said, "we are already drowning in plastic, and this decision only serves as a mop, not a complete turn-off of the tap.
We need the government to adopt a more robust plastic reduction strategy, to get more items into the reusable system."
In addition to some plastics, the ban will cover disposable trays and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers. Still, it will exempt plates, trays, and bowls from supermarket-ready meals.
The government intends to implement a separate program to incentivize and raise recycling standards for manufacturers.
The UK government is taking action to tackle plastic waste through the UK Plastics Pact, which is investigating possible measures until 2025. These include action items such as PVC cling film, fruit and vegetable labels, small boxes, and plastic coffee bags.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland already have plans to ban single-use plastic tableware, while the European Union imposed a similar ban in July.
France has also launched a plan to eliminate all single-use plastic products by 2040. The first phase began on January 1, 2020, and the French government has banned three common single-use plastic items: plates, cups, and swabs.
The UK government's decision to ban a range of single-use plastic products is a step in the right direction in tackling plastic pollution. However, environmental groups are urging the government to adopt a more comprehensive plastic reduction strategy.
It is also essential to incentivize manufacturers to use more sustainable materials and raise recycling standards to create a more sustainable future. The UK's decision to ban plastic products should inspire other countries to take similar steps to protect the environment and reduce plastic waste.
