The Government has published guidance to help businesses prepare
for the ban on single-use plastics which is due to come into
force in October.
From 1st October 2023, retailers will not be able to
supply, sell or offer the following single-use plastic
items:
- Plates
- Trays
- Bowls
- Cutlery
- Balloon sticks
- Certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers
Retailers are advised to sell through existing stock before
October, source alternative single-use materials and consider
offering more reusable items.
Figures from the ACS Voice of Local Shops Survey of over 1200
retailers shows that thousands are already providing plastic free
alternatives in their businesses. 42% of independent retailers
surveyed said they provided paper cups for customers, with 40%
providing paper bags for fresh produce and 33% providing paper
straws for drinks served in store.
The guidance also includes information on scenarios which will be
exempt, for example, retailers 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
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Convenience retailers are
committed to making a positive difference in the communities that
they operate in and have been working to reduce plastic waste for
a number of years now, with thousands of retailers implementing
voluntary carrier bag charges in England before they were
mandatory.
“We are encouraging retailers to familiarise themselves with the
guidance to ensure that they are prepared for when the ban on
single-use plastic products comes into force.”
The full guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/single-use-plastics-ban-plates-bowls-trays-containers-cutlery-and-balloon-sticks
