First single-use plastics ban for Wales

From 30^th Oct, 10 single-use plastic products will be banned under a new Welsh law. With the English ban earlier this month, and previous bans in 2022 in Scotland and England, it might seem confusing which plastic products are banned, and where.

There are many differences in the ban depending on where you live or run your business. All bans contain some exemptions, some medical and essential, and others just plain frustrating.  It’s easy to get caught up in the differences and exemptions, but the whole picture is positive, and we are moving in the right direction. Many problem single-use plastics are now harder to buy in many parts of the UK, and plastic should no longer be the go-to product for businesses as we move towards a more circular economy.

As with other bans, the Welsh Ban includes:

• Plastic plates,
• Plastic cutlery,
• Plastic Balloon sticks
• Expanded and extruded polystyrene food and drinks containers.
• Plastic cotton bud sticks, drinks stirrers and straws.

It includes products with a plastic lining, bio-plastics and compostable plastics. It does not include bowls & trays, and polystyrene lids. Although lids will be included in a proposed Phase 2 ban in Wales in 2026, to also include single-use plastic carrier bags and products made of oxo-degradable plastic.

In Ireland, the 2021 EU ban applies. Which includes: Plastic plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks and cotton buds. As well as: cups, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene and all products made of oxo-degradable plastic.

The Northern Ireland Protocol means that this EU ban should also apply to NI, but implementation has not yet happened.

Plastic cups that are not polystyrene are not yet included in any ban.

So…what about the alternatives?

Many of our Plastic Free Business Champions know that refill and reuse not only reduces plastic use, but reduces waste and cuts costs. This video by the Environmental Paper Network, explains why we need to think about the lifecycle of any single-use product, paper-based packaging included, watch it HERE.

Refill and reuse may feel a couple of steps away for lots of business though. Below is a handy traffic light explainer to guide you through alternatives to the now banned plastics…and how to move towards refill and reuse:

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