Businesses using single-use plastic face fines as new ban comes into force

Businesses could face fines for using single use plastic cutlery, bags and takeaway pots after a new plastic ban has come into force.

Lambeth council announced the new regulations yesterday as part of a national ban on the non-biodegradable plastics.

The new restrictions are focused on takeaways, sandwich bars, care homes and retailers who supply certain single use plastic items – also known as disposable plastics.

A spokeswoman for Chinese takeaway Lucky Fish, in Kennington lane, Vauxhall, said the company has switched from using plastic forks to cutlery made from bamboo since the ban came into force.

Single use plastics are not biodegradable and end up in landfill. A council spokesman said the ban has been introduced to “reduce the release of associated toxins in the ground water and air”.

The ban includes all single use plastic cutlery, trays, plates, bowls, and balloon sticks, as well as banning the use of certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers used to supply food which is ready to consume.

The council has advised businesses to use alternatives such as paper plates, bamboo or wooden cutlery, reusable bowls that can be washed and refill customers water bottles and encourage them to bring their own clean containers for takeaway food.

It is estimated that 2.7billion single-use cutlery items and 721million single-use plates are thrown away every year in England. 

Councillor Rezina Chowdhury, deputy leader and cabinet member for sustainable Lambeth and clean air, said: “This is a valuable effort to reduce unnecessary waste that is harmful to our environment. 

“It supports the ambition in our borough plan for Lambeth to be a clean, vibrant and climate resilient borough by 2030.”

Pictured top: Polluting plastics (Picture: Collab media/Pexels)