On May 23, 2023, the UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) published its guidance on England’s single-use plastics ban, concerning plates, bowls, trays, containers, cutlery, and balloon sticks. The guidance says that from October 1, 2023, businesses must no longer supply, sell, or offer these single-use plastic items in England.
Single use is defined as items that are meant to be used only once for their original purpose and include biodegradable, compostable, and recycled items. The document also includes exemptions from the ban such as supplying the items to another business, or items that are already acting as packaging: e.g., pre-filled salad bowl or ready meal packaged in a tray, a plate filled at the counter of a takeaway, a tray used to deliver food.
The ban also includes the supply of polystyrene food and drink containers. Exemptions here are if the product needs further preparation before being consumed, e.g., adding water, microwaving, or toasting.
The United Kingdom was part of the European Union during much of the development of the EU’s single use plastics directive (FPF reported). England is the last of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom to incorporate single-use plastic bans into national law.
Reference
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (May 23, 2023). “Single-use plastics ban: plates, bowls, trays, containers, cutlery and balloon sticks.”
