The UK bans single-use plastic forks, knives and plates

The ban on single-use products such as forks, knives, plates and plastic trays in England will come into force on 1 October.

The British government is preparing to ban these single-use plastic products in order to reduce environmental pollution. However, this practice will not cover plastic products used by supermarkets or food served in packages by restaurants.

Businesses that continue to supply banned single-use plastics after October 1 may be fined and subject to inspection by local authorities.

While similar bans have been implemented in Scotland, in 2020 single-use plastic pipes, mixers and earplugs containing plastic were banned in England.

Scotland banned single-use plastic products only for businesses in June 2022.

In Wales, a similar law was passed in December 2022, but parts of the implementation may not come into force until 2026.

Only 10 percent of single-use plastic is recycled

In the UK, data shows that around 1.1 billion single-use plastic plates and 4.25 billion cutlery and spoons are used each year, with only 10 per cent being recycled after use.

The European Union (EU) has introduced new regulations in recent years to reduce the amount of plastic waste and has banned plastic products such as single-use plates, forks, cups and straws in 2021.