Mason Moore & Jane Clinton | 17 January 2023

A PLAN to ban a suite of single-use plastics in England starting from October has been backed by Hinckley and Bosworth’s Conservative MP, Dr. Luke Evans.

The local Member of Parliament has welcomed the Government’s plans to single-use plastic cutlery and bowls, which are set to be banned in a bid to put a stop to plastic pollution.

Under the new legislation, consumers will no longer be able to buy single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, or certain types of polystyrene cups, from any retailer, takeaway restaurant, food vendor, or business in the hospital industry.

As it comes into effect in October – which is still eight months away – businesses still have plenty of time to prepare ready for when the ban is being fully enforced.

According to estimates, England uses 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery – most of which are plastic – and 721 million single-use plates per year, but only 10 per cent of these are recycled.

If 2.7 billion pieces of cutlery were lined up then they would go around the world over eight and a half times (based on a 15cm piece of cutlery).

According to The Guardian, plastic items which relate to takeaway food and drink, including food containers, make up the ‘largest share’ of litter in the world’s oceans.

They further added the ban would not affect plates, trays, or bowls which are used as packaging in what the Department have called “shelf-ready pre-packaged food items”.

Dr. Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, said: “Plastic pollution can take hundreds of years to break down, causing serious damage to our country’s oceans, rivers and land.

“Many people across Bosworth have written to me about this so I am delighted to share the news that action is being taken.

“I welcome the Government’s plans to ban polluting single-use plastics later this year as the next important step in our work to provide a healthier planet for future generations by eliminating avoidable plastic waste.”

The Secretary of State for Environment, Thérèse Coffey, said: “We all know the absolutely devastating impact that plastic can have on our environment and wildlife.

“We have listened to the public and these new single-use plastics bans will continue our vital work to protect the environment for future generations.”

Rebecca Pow, the Environment Minister, added: “By introducing a ban later this year we are doubling down on our commitment to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste.

“We will also be pressing ahead with our ambitious plans for a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and consistent recycling collections in England.”