The British government has announced its decision to ban single-use plastic cutlery in the country starting next October. Local media reported from the Ministry of Environment that the new ban will also include some single-use plastic plates, trays, certain types of cups, and food containers made from polystyrene, as the government seeks to curb the destructive impact of plastic on the environment.
The same sources indicated that officials from the ministry stated that England uses about 2.7 billion pieces of single-use cutlery each year, with only 10% of them being recycled. It was noted that citizens will not be able to purchase the banned items from retailers, fast food outlets, or food vendors. Environment Secretary Therese Coffey was quoted as saying, "We all know the completely destructive effects of plastic on our environment and wildlife. We have listened to the public, and the new ban on single-use plastics means we continue our very important work to protect the environment for future generations."
