Many single-use plastics, including some products that have been labelled as compostable, recycled, and biodegradable will be banned.
Plastic plates, bowls and trays are not banned but restricted.
The ban also covers expanded polystyrene cups and extruded polystyrene foam cups and food containers, although not polystyrene material.
Rebecca Pow, environment minister, said the government has already implemented bans on straws, stirrers and cotton buds, as well as rolling out charges for carrier bags and an industry tax on large plastic packaging imports.
She said the latest ban will “protect the environment and help to cut litter – stopping plastic pollution dirtying our streets and threatening our wildlife”.
The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling on the Government to go further and introduce the new extended producer responsibility to incentivise producers and companies to reduce waste and increase recyclable packaging.
Cllr Darren Rodwell, environment spokesperson for the LGA, said: “Councils are sure that businesses want to comply with these new regulations and keep plastic waste to a minimum.
“However, we are concerned that some local businesses and consumers are not aware of the impending ban on these materials and would encourage everyone to take a look at the materials impacted by it.
“This is a valuable policy to reduce waste but there is still more to do. We are keen the Government introduces Extended Producer Responsibility to incentivise producers to reduce waste and increase recyclable packaging, as well as enable councils to work with communities to improve recycling.”
Hospitality trade needs to accelerate the transformation with the prospect of fines for non-compliance.
The sector is expected to be hugely affected, as it includes new and existing stock of plastic items which businesses will have to dispose of.
Henry Stephenson, managing director of food packaging and cutlery supplier Stephensons, said the ban will affect businesses of all sizes.
“With limited information currently available to provide clear guidelines and advice for preparation, we aim to ensure businesses can cope with this change.”
