Single - use Plastic Plates and Food Utensils to be Banned in England

Single - use Plastic Plates and Food Utensils to be Banned in England
The British government has confirmed that single - use plastic plates, food utensils, and polystyrene trays will be banned in England. Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said the move will help protect the environment and benefit future generations.
According to government figures, each person in England uses an average of 18 single - use plastic plates and 37 pieces of plastic cutlery every year, with only 10% being recycled. A plastic fork can take 200 years to decompose in landfill or the ocean. This latest ban mainly targets single - use plastic items related to takeaway food and drink. Similar bans have already been implemented in Scotland and Wales, and England banned single - use plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds in 2020. The ban is the result of a long - term public consultation, but it does not cover single - use plastic tableware in supermarkets or shops. Environmental campaigners have welcomed the ban but called for a more extensive plastic reduction strategy.