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England\u2019s taking its single-use plastics ban even further by restricting the sale of plastic cutlery, plates, bowls, trays, balloon sticks, as well as certain kinds of polystyrene cups and food containers (via Engadget<\/em><\/a>). According to an announcement<\/a> on the English government\u2019s website, the new ban will go into effect in October of this year. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Once the ban comes into force, people will no longer be able to buy or obtain these single-use plastics from businesses, including retailers, restaurants, food vendors, and other locations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The ban won\u2019t affect the plastic plates, trays, or bowls that come with pre-packaged food items, though, as they\u2019re already included in the country\u2019s Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme<\/a>. This initiative incentivizes companies to use recyclable packaging, as well as \u201cmeet higher recycling targets.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The upcoming ban expands on the country\u2019s existing rules surrounding plastic products. In 2018, England introduced a ban on microbeads<\/a>, the tiny pieces of plastic added to personal care products that can get into waterways and harm marine life. It later restricted the availability<\/a> of single-use plastic straws, drink stirrers, and cotton swaps in 2020, and introduced a tax<\/a> on imported plastic packaging that doesn\u2019t include at least 30 percent recycled material last year. The country also charges for the use<\/a> of plastic bags.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cBy introducing a ban later this year we are doubling down on our commitment to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste,\u201d Rebecca Pow, England\u2019s environment minister, says in a statement. England\u2019s ban follows Scotland<\/a> and Wales\u2019<\/a> move to restrict the sale of plastic cutlery and plates last year, and comes after the European Union did the same in 2021<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n However, some critics argue that it still isn\u2019t enough to tackle rampant plastic pollution that\u2019s wreaking havoc<\/a> on the planet. As journalist and former Guardian<\/em> environment editor, John Vidal, points out<\/a>, England\u2019s ban \u201cis too narrow in its scope,\u201d as it doesn\u2019t \u201ccover single-use plastic water bottles, makes no mention of plastic bags and does not even try to control the burning of plastic waste in incinerators.\u201d Meanwhile, Meg Randles, a political campaigner at Greenpeace UK, welcomes the change<\/a>, but says the move is \u201clong overdue\u201d and \u201cstill a drop in the ocean compared to the action that\u2019s needed to stem the plastic tide.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In addition to an extended ban on single-use plastics, the country\u2019s also \u201ccarefully considering\u201d restrictions on wet wipes, tobacco filters, and sachets. It may also require companies to add labeling to plastic products to inform customers how to properly dispose of them, and is working towards developing a bottle return program.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n