Companies have mentioned that they weren’t conscious of a ban in England on single-use plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene trays that comes into drive on Sunday.

The ban doesn’t lengthen to plastic containers and trays utilized in takeaways or for pre-packaged meals in outlets resulting in environmental campaigners saying the brand new guidelines don’t go far sufficient, and referred to as the federal government’s method “piecemeal”.

The federal government mentioned it was the “subsequent massive step” in its “journey to get rid of all avoidable plastic waste by 2042”.

Plastic air pollution takes a whole bunch of years to interrupt down, harms waterways and is a supply of greenhouse gases.

From Sunday, 1 October, outlets, takeaways, meals distributors and different hospitality companies will now not be capable of promote single-use plastic cutlery, balloon sticks, polystyrene cups or meals containers.

It follows an identical ban in 2022 on single-use straws, stirrers and cotton buds containing plastic.

Nevertheless, underneath an exemption to the brand new guidelines, takeaways will nonetheless be capable of use plastic containers, trays and wrap.

Retailers also can proceed utilizing plastic plates, bowls and trays for pre-packaged meals reminiscent of pre-filled salad bowls and prepared meals.

The federal government mentioned these things have been classed as “packaging” and can be tackled underneath separate guidelines. These are supposed to shift the prices of coping with packaging waste away from native authorities and onto packaging producers.

Anna Diski, plastics campaigner for Greenpeace UK, mentioned: “Legislating token bans on just a few single-use plastic objects each few years… [is] fully insufficient to the dimensions of the issue.

“As an alternative of this piecemeal method, the federal government wants to handle the issue at supply and roll out a severe technique to chop how a lot plastic is being produced.”

In the meantime, some companies mentioned they weren’t conscious of the brand new guidelines in any respect.

Takeaway proprietor Herdy Ibrahim in Leeds mentioned: “To be sincere with you I haven’t heard something about it.”

Throughout the highway at Quick Fried Rooster, Jalal Ali mentioned he had simply purchased two weeks’ provide of polystyrene bins and wholesalers are “nonetheless full” of packaging that will likely be banned from Sunday.

“I’ve been to the warehouse yesterday they usually nonetheless have plastic forks and polystyrene trays like I’ve right here,” he mentioned.

Andrew Criminal, president of the Nationwide Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), mentioned: “We’ve been working with the Foodservice Packaging Affiliation and Defra to get info collectively for our members however, after all, not all takeaways and eating places are members of organisations so there will likely be locations on the market that will likely be studying the information immediately.”

In September, the British Unbiased Retail Affiliation, that works with greater than 6,000 unbiased companies, warned some corporations have been unaware of, or unprepared for, the brand new guidelines.

Companies that proceed to provide banned single-use plastics after 1 October might be fined and native authorities will likely be finishing up inspections.

Setting Minister Rebecca Pow mentioned the federal government had labored carefully with business over the past 9 months to assist it transition to greener packaging.

“This new ban will shield the atmosphere and assist to chop litter – stopping plastic air pollution dirtying our streets and threatening our wildlife,” she mentioned.

‘Particular circumstances’

There may be backing by the general public to scale back plastic waste. In response to analysis by takeaway supply platform Simply Eat, 70% of individuals suppose the federal government ought to do extra to scale back plastic use, whereas 73% would help a ban on plastic takeaway bins.

Robin Clark, world director of sustainability at Simply Eat, mentioned that the UK takeaway business used round 500 million single-use plastic bins annually.

The agency urged the federal government to make sustainable packaging alternate options extra broadly out there and reasonably priced for companies and shoppers.