New single-use plastic ban takes effect in England – here's why its impact may be limited

In the UK, households collectively throw away an estimated 100 billion pieces of plastic packaging each year.

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The ConversationThe Conversation
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https://theconversation.com/new-single-use-plastic-ban-takes-effect-in-england-heres-why-its-impact-may-be-limited-214612https://theconversation.com/new-single-use-plastic-ban-takes-effect-in-england-heres-why-its-impact-may-be-limited-214612
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Monday, October 2, 2023
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People, Department, Plastic, Communication, Industry, University, Snack, Awareness, Policy, Children's right to adequate nutrition in New Zealand, Research, Goal, Vegetable, Fruit, Sale, Government, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Climate change, Compliance, Product, Environment, Health, Food, Recycling, Risk management
Geotags: 
ENGLAND, RWANDA, UK
Summary
Key Points: 
  • In the UK, households collectively throw away an estimated 100 billion pieces of plastic packaging each year.
  • In 2020, the UK government banned the sale of several single-use plastic products in England including straws, stirrers and cotton buds – but with exceptions for medical use.
  • From October 1 2023, businesses in England are prohibited from selling several other single-use plastic products including plastic cutlery, balloon sticks and polystyrene cups.

What will the ban change?

    • Plastics that are particularly difficult to recycle like polystyrene cups also have stricter rules, but with a few exceptions too.
    • The new ban also doesn’t cover single-use plastic packaging.
    • Single-use plastic packaging is one of the leading sources of plastic pollution in the UK.

How effective will the ban be?

    • The new ban is a step towards tackling the impacts of pollution caused by single-use plastics.
    • However, for such a ban to be genuinely effective, several key elements must be in place.
    • This ensures that those affected understand the ban’s purpose and how its progress will be assessed, while also promoting accountability.
    • The government’s new ban lacks any specific or measurable objectives.

Improving awareness

    • For example, businesses were given several months after the consultation on the ban to prepare and use up excess stock.
    • Adequate public awareness is also necessary to ensure everyone understands the reasons behind the ban, how it affects them, and what the available alternatives are.
    • In Rwanda, where a ban on plastic bags was introduced in 2008, announcements were made on airlines and at ports of entry to inform visitors.
    • In a similar way, the UK government’s recent ban is accompanied by official guidance explaining the ban’s implications.
    • Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue.
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