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| Single-use plastic cutlery and plates to be banned in England | Single-use plastic cutlery and plates to be banned in England |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Single-use items like plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene trays will be banned in England, the government has confirmed. | |
| It is not clear when the ban will come into effect but it follows similar moves by Scotland and Wales. | |
| Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said the move would help protect the environment for future generations. | Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said the move would help protect the environment for future generations. |
| Campaigners welcomed the ban, but called for a wider-ranging plastic reduction strategy. | Campaigners welcomed the ban, but called for a wider-ranging plastic reduction strategy. |
| Government figures suggest that 1.1 billion single-use plates and more than four billion pieces of plastic cutlery are used in England every year. | Government figures suggest that 1.1 billion single-use plates and more than four billion pieces of plastic cutlery are used in England every year. |
| Plastic waste often does not decompose and can last in landfill for many years. | Plastic waste often does not decompose and can last in landfill for many years. |
| Although it might be useful in terms of food hygiene, it can also end up as litter, in turn polluting soil and water. | Although it might be useful in terms of food hygiene, it can also end up as litter, in turn polluting soil and water. |
| The confirmation of the move from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) follows a long consultation, which will be published on Saturday 14 January. | The confirmation of the move from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) follows a long consultation, which will be published on Saturday 14 January. |
| Wales plastics ban 'may not be fully enforced until 2026' | Wales plastics ban 'may not be fully enforced until 2026' |
| Waste from across world found on remote British island | Waste from across world found on remote British island |
| Each person in England uses an average of 18 single-use plastic plates and 37 items of plastic cutlery every year, according to Defra, while just 10% of those are recycled. | Each person in England uses an average of 18 single-use plastic plates and 37 items of plastic cutlery every year, according to Defra, while just 10% of those are recycled. |
| Ms Coffey is set to ban a range of single-use plastic items mainly relating to takeaway food and drink. | Ms Coffey is set to ban a range of single-use plastic items mainly relating to takeaway food and drink. |
| "I am determined to drive forward action to tackle this issue head on. We've already taken major steps in recent years - but we know there is more to do, and we have again listened to the public's calls," she said. | "I am determined to drive forward action to tackle this issue head on. We've already taken major steps in recent years - but we know there is more to do, and we have again listened to the public's calls," she said. |
| "This new ban will have a huge impact to stop the pollution of billions of pieces of plastics and help to protect the natural environment for future generations." | "This new ban will have a huge impact to stop the pollution of billions of pieces of plastics and help to protect the natural environment for future generations." |
| Similar bans have already been made in Scotland, while single-use plastic straws, stirrers and plastic stemmed cotton buds were already banned in England in 2020. | |
| Scotland introduced a ban on businesses using a range of single-use plastic goods in June last year. Laws for a similar ban in Wales were approved in December and will come into force later in 2023. | Scotland introduced a ban on businesses using a range of single-use plastic goods in June last year. Laws for a similar ban in Wales were approved in December and will come into force later in 2023. |
| This latest measure does not, however, cover items found in supermarkets or shops. The government said it would address those by other means. | This latest measure does not, however, cover items found in supermarkets or shops. The government said it would address those by other means. |
| Megan Randles, political campaigner for Greenpeace UK, said that the organisation welcomed the ban but further action was needed. | Megan Randles, political campaigner for Greenpeace UK, said that the organisation welcomed the ban but further action was needed. |
| She said: "We're dealing with a plastic flood, and this is like reaching for a mop instead of turning off the tap." | She said: "We're dealing with a plastic flood, and this is like reaching for a mop instead of turning off the tap." |
| She called on the government to deliver a "meaningful" strategy on how to reduce plastic use, which would also include stringent targets and "a proper reuse and refill scheme". | She called on the government to deliver a "meaningful" strategy on how to reduce plastic use, which would also include stringent targets and "a proper reuse and refill scheme". |