Residents and businesses in the Borough of Havant are being reminded about a ban on single-use plastics which comes into force on 1 October 2023.
Havant Borough Council is welcoming the Government ban on a number of commonly littered items including plastic cutlery, plates and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers commonly used for takeaways.
From October, residents should no longer be supplied with these products by retailers, food vendors, or any hospitality company. Businesses are advised to think about sourcing alternatives if they haven’t already done so.
The ban follows on from the effective banning of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds in October 2020.
It is hoped the move will raise awareness of the environmental harm plastic plates and cutlery can cause when they are not correctly disposed of.
Plastic can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, damaging habitats and endangering wildlife. It will eventually break down into microplastics that end up in soil, the sea and enter the human food chain.
Councillor Elizabeth Lloyd, Cabinet Lead for Planning, Environment and Water Quality, said: “As Havant Borough Council has recently agreed on adopting the ‘Motion in the Ocean’ declaration, this ban on the use of single-use plastics is most welcomed.
“Businesses should use up any existing stock they may already have and find alternatives to single-use items. Reusing plates, bowls and cutlery, or sourcing alternative single-use items such as wood-based cutlery and paper-based plates.
“We welcome this ban and would encourage businesses to make sure they are prepared to use more sustainable alternatives from October.”
It is estimated that England uses 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery each year, and 721 million single-use plates. Only 10% of these items are recycled.
Businesses could:
• Offer paper plates instead of plastic
• Offer to refill customers’ water bottles or travel cups
• Swap plastic for bamboo or wooden cutlery for takeaway food
• Swap plastic for metal cutlery for in-house guests
• Swap single-use plastic plates or bowls to reusable alternatives that can be washed
• Encourage customers to bring their own containers for takeaway food
Further information for businesses on Government guidance on how to prepare for the ban.