Single Use Plastic Ban from 1st October 2023

July 14, 2023

From 1 October businesses must no longer supply, sell or offer certain single-use plastic items in England.

The ban on these items will include:

• Online and over-the-counter sales and supply
• Items from new and existing stock
• All types of single-use plastic, including biodegradable, compostable and recycled
• Items wholly or partly made from plastic, including coating or lining
• Businesses can be fined if they continue to supply banned single-use plastics after 1 October.

Plates, bowls and trays

From 1 October you must not supply single-use plastic plates, trays and bowls to members of the public.

Exemptions

You can still supply single-use plastic plates, bowls and trays if either of the following apply:

• You are supplying them to another business
• The items are packaging (pre-filled or filled at the point of sale)

Examples of this type of packaging include:

• A 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
• Cutlery and balloon sticks

From 1 October you must not supply single-use plastic cutlery or balloon sticks. There are no exemptions to this ban.

Polystyrene food and drink containers

From 1 October you must not supply ready-to-consume food and drink in polystyrene containers. This includes in polystyrene cups.

Polystyrene means expanded and extruded polystyrene.

Exemptions

You can still supply food or drink in polystyrene containers if it needs further preparation before it is consumed. For example, further preparation could mean:

• Adding water
• Microwaving
• Toasting

For more information go to the government website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/single-use-plastics-ban-plates-bowls-trays-containers-cutlery-and-balloon-sticks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery