Single Use Plastics
Businesses must not supply certain single-use plastic items in England, except for some exemptions. This ban has been in place since October 2023.
Guidance provided by the UK Government: Single-use plastics bans and restrictions - GOV.UK
DEFRA can provide help. If you have any questions about what these rules mean for your business, email: Plastics.Consultation@defra.gov.uk
The ban on these items includes:
- online and over-the-counter sales and supply
- items from new and existing stock
- all types of single-use plastic, including biodegradable, compostable and recycled
- items wholly or partly made from plastic, including coating or lining
- ‘Single use’ means the item is meant to be used only once for its original purpose.
Businesses should have:
- used up existing stock before 1 October 2023
- found re-usable alternatives to single-use items
- use different materials for single-use plastic items
If you continue to supply banned single-use plastics after 1 October 2024, you could be fined.
Guidance on types of single use plastics and exemptions
From 1 October 2023 you must not supply single-use plastic plates, trays and bowls to members of the public.
Exemptions
You can still supply single-use plastic plates, bowls and trays if either of the following apply:
- you are supplying them to another business
- the items are packaging (pre-filled or filled at the point of sale)
Examples of this type of packaging include:
- a pre-filled salad bowl or ready meal packaged in a tray
- a plate filled at the counter of a takeaway
- a tray used to deliver food
From 1 October 2023 you must not supply single-use plastic cutlery or balloon sticks.
Exemptions
There are no exemptions to this ban.
From 1 October 2023 you must not supply ready-to-consume food and drink in polystyrene containers. This includes in polystyrene cups.
Polystyrene means expanded and extruded polystyrene.
Exemptions
You 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
Inspections
We will carry out inspections to make sure the rules are being followed.
Trading Standard Inspectors can:
- visit a shop or store
- make test purchases
- speak to staff
- ask to see records
If you break the law, inspectors can order your business to cover the cost of the investigation.
Report a business breaking the law
Complaints about a business
breaking the law, by providing single use plastics, can be made to our Trading
Standards team. Email us your concerns: trading.standards@iow.gov.uk
Appealing a fine
You can appeal within 28 days of getting a fine if you think something is wrong. Information on how to appeal can be found in letter detailing the fine.
If you can show that you did everything you reasonably could to avoid breaking any rules, this would be an acceptable defence.
Technical information for manufacturers: expanded and extruded polystyrene
Polystyrene is a polymer made from styrene monomers. Only polystyrene that has been through a foaming process is in the scope of this ban.
The Polystyrene Foaming process is a method of expansion of the material at any point during its manufacture, by any means such as:
- heat from steam
- expansion during
- cooling
Using any blowing agent such as:
- butane
- pentane
- propane
Products made from polystyrene that has been expanded prior to fusion are expanded polystyrene (EPS) products.
Plastic is defined in The Environmental Protection (Plastic Plates etc. and Polystyrene Containers etc.) (England) Regulations 2023
Manufacturing methods for EPS:
Expansion (foaming) prior to fusion (EPS)
- Expandable polystyrene beads.
- Beads impregnated with blowing agent.
- Beads heated in a steam chamber to allow for bead expansion (foaming).
- Expanded beads pumped into product mould.
- Mould is heated to fuse beads.
- Item released from mould.
Products made from polystyrene that has first been extruded, then expanded, are extruded polystyrene (XPS) products.
Plastic is defined in The Environmental Protection (Plastic Plates etc. and Polystyrene Containers etc.) (England) Regulations 2023
Manufacturing methods for XPS:
Extrusion prior to expansion (foaming) (XPS)
- Polystyrene nurdles.
- Granules passed through an extruder to melt and for the addition of a blowing agent.
- Polystyrene passed out of an extruder, the reduced pressure and cooling allows for expansion (foaming).
- Polystyrene sheet formed into product shape.
- Polystyrene item cut from sheet.
Other manufacturing processes for polystyrene products are also covered in the ban. Read the guidance provided by Business Companion about Single-use plastics