Washington, D.C. –  On Monday, January 9, the United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) confirmed to multiple news outlets that it is planning to ban the use of some single-use plastics in England. The plan, which will cover plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks and certain kinds of polystyrene cups and food containers, will be officially announced on Saturday, January 14. Nicholas Mallos, Ocean Conservancy’s Vice President of Ocean Plastics, issued the following statement in response:

“England’s announcement is a huge win in the growing global movement to reduce our reliance on single-use plastics. In the last 12 months alone, we’ve seen the passage of landmark legislation in California; expansive limitations on the import and manufacturing of single-use plastic items in Canada; and strict bans on plastic cutlery, plates, beverage stirrers and foam food containers in Scotland and Wales.

“These actions are critical for the health of our ocean: in the nearly four decades that Ocean Conservancy has mobilized the International Coastal Cleanup®(ICC), volunteers worldwide have collected more than 381 million pieces of trash from beaches and waterways, the majority of which are food and beverage related items like those covered in England’s new rule. In the U.K. alone, volunteers with our partner Marine Conservation Society have collected 60,515 pieces of plastic cutlery, 44,891 plastic cups and plates, and 35,529 foam takeaway containers as part of the ICC.

“Not only do bans immediately prevent more plastic from entering the ocean, they also clean up recycling streams and play an important role in catalyzing the needed transition to reusable systems.  Ocean Conservancy is thrilled that England has taken this critical step to phase out these harmful single-use plastics, and we look forward to seeing the ban implemented.”

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A fact sheet on plastic foodware can be found here. Additional annual ICC data can be found here.

About Ocean Conservancy
Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.