The regulations prohibit the supply of a range of plastic items (including biodegradable plastic) in two stages.
Plastic items prohibited in stage 1 include:
- plates
- unlidded bowls
- cutlery
- drink stirrers
- drinking straws
- unlidded cups for cold beverages
- thick plastic shopping bags
- expanded polystyrene (EPS) takeaway food containers
- helium balloon releases
- unlidded takeaway food containers.
Plastic items prohibited under stage 2 include:
- loose and moulded expanded polystyrene packaging
- degradable plastics (plastics designed to break up more rapidly into fragments under certain conditions)
- produce bags
- expanded polystyrene cups and food trays for raw meat and seafood
- coffee cups and lids
- lids for cups, bowls, trays, plates and takeaway food containers
- trays for takeaway food not covered in the Stage 1 ban
- cotton buds with plastic stems
- microbeads.
