A new report claims the government wants to ban single-use forks, knives and plates in England in a step which could help to reduce plastic waste.
Environment Secretary George Eustice is looking at arranging a consultation in regards to a ban on disposable cutlery, claims the Sun.
He hopes the new rules could bring down the annual amount of plastic waste in the UK which currently stands at five million tons.
Nearly half of this amount is packaging plastics.
Plastic waste often does not decompose and either ends up in landfill for centuries or filters into the natural environment and harms animals and sea life.
The government states on a research briefing paper on the UK Parliament website that they have an ambition of zero avoidable waste by 2050 and a target to eliminate avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042.
Currently, there’s already a ban on supplying plastic straws, stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds which started last October.
If the ban does come into play then this means Brits will need to take their own cutlery or use wooden versions on picnics and barbecues.
But, fears have cropped up in recent months that the coronavirus pandemic will increase single-use plastic waste as people try and avoid things which have been touched or used before and are not vacuum sealed.
Single use masks have also been found littering beaches and British beauty spots as they fall out of pockets or are dropped.
Luckily, in an attempt to tackle the issue, plastic packaging must be made from at least one third recycled material from next spring.
If producers do not comply they will be targeted with an expensive new tax.
And, the government is also looking at forcing high street coffee chains to collect their own disposable cups and recycle them.
A landmark environment bill will be brought forward this year in an attempt to cut waste and improve climate change.
As the administration’s in Scotland, Wales and Ireland are devolved they will have their own targets and rules come into play.
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