A ban on single-use plastics will be introduced across Wales from next week.
Wales made history last year when it became the first UK nation to legislate against single-use plastics.
In December 2022, the Senedd approved legislation to ban selling unnecessary, disposable products to consumers.
As part of this ban, the sale of items including single-use plastic cutlery, plates and straws as well as takeaway food containers made of expanded or foamed extruded polystyrene will be prohibited.
When will the single-use plastic ban come into force in Wales?
The ban on single-use plastics will come into force across Wales from Monday (October 30).
This comes nearly a year after legislation to ban the selling of unnecessary, disposable products to consumers was approved by the Senedd.
What items will be banned?
The following items, according to the Welsh Government, will no longer be able to be sold under the new single-use plastic ban:
- Single-use plastic plates
- Single-use plastic cutlery
- Single-use plastic drink stirrers
- Cups made of expanded or foamed extruded polystyrene.
- Takeaway food containers made of expanded or foamed extruded polystyrene
- Single-use plastic balloon sticks
- Single-use plastic-stemmed Cotton buds
- Single-use plastic drinking straws
Local authorities will have the power to enforce the offence of supplying or offering to supply any of these items.
The ban of plastic single-use carrier bags, polystyrene lids for cups and food containers and products made of oxo-degradable plastic will also be introduced at a later date (but before the end of the Senedd term - May 2026).
Why is the single-use plastic ban being introduced?
The new law banning single-use plastics is being introduced across Wales as part of the process to reduce the flow of damaging plastic waste into the Welsh environment.
The Welsh Government website says: "Wales is currently ranked as the world’s third best domestic recycler and the new law demonstrates how the Welsh Government is continuing to take ambitious steps to tackle the climate and nature emergencies.
Do you recycle your food waste? ♻️
— Welsh Government (@WelshGovernment) October 22, 2023
We're proud to say we're ranked first in the UK for recycling and third in the world!
We convert food waste into green energy, so make sure you put those scraps in the food waste caddy so we can keep using them to power homes 🏴#RecycleWeek pic.twitter.com/BA8qgI7jR4
Minister for Climate Change, Julie James added: "This is a proud moment for Wales as we make another stride forward in eradicating plastic from our beaches, streets, and landfill.
"If we all take a ‘Team Wales’ approach and look to reuse, recycle and repair more, it’ll help create a greener future for generations to come.
“Single-use plastics are discarded without thought, causing harm to wildlife and our environment.
"These bans build on the actions of communities across Wales who are reducing their reliance on unnecessary single-use plastic.
"We’re asking businesses and organisations to ready themselves for the change by reducing their stock levels, recycling existing stock and consider switching to reusable alternatives – and where this isn’t possible, looking at non-plastic alternatives."
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