By Angela Green:
Last weekend across England, the ban prohibiting hospitality and catering outlets serving customers with plastic cutlery, plates, and polystyrene trays, including biodegradable, compostable and recycled products, came into force.
The new regulations became law on Sunday 1st October, with local councils now responsible for enforcing the ban, and inspecting premises. Any operator found not complying with the ban could face a fine of £200.
A government spokesperson claimed the ban was the “next big step to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042”. The new legislation however allows single-use plastic containers, trays, and bowls to be used in packaging of food in takeaways and pre-package food in retailers. An odd distinction as it rewards the offending plastics being taken off premises and penalises on premises, where controlled disposal would seem far easier.
The decision on the date by government however seems to have caught the Local Government Association (LGA) off guard. The LGA represent local authorities and have warned that not enough businesses and/or the individuals running them have been made aware of the changes in time.
The LGA are now expressing concerns that in light of the changes some hospitality firms are unaware of them, which will result in more pressure for councils, as they will need to enforce the ban as well as dispose of the offending items of plastic.
A government spokesman said councils would receive funding to help enforce the ban and was working to ensure that the Trading Standards offices were ready. No timeline was given by the government spokesperson as to when the funds to support the new scheme would arrive.
The Office for National Statistics estimate 1.1 billion items of single-use plastic plates, and 4 billion items of plastic cutlery are used in England every year, with only about 10% being recycled.