Plastic ban looms but UK won't ditch all single-use items

The United Kingdom is hoping to end a toxic relationship with single-use plastic. The government says it will impose a limited ban on these items starting on October 1.

The regulations are designed to reduce the amount of cutlery and packaging that's used only once before it's discarded.  The ban applies specifically to England, with other parts of the UK adopting their own rules and timeframes. 

Government figures show that the UK uses nearly three billion pieces of single-use cutlery, and more than half-a-billion plastic plates, every year.The new rules ban plastic cutlery completely, but the public isn't 'breaking up' with single-use containers just yet. Plates, bowls, and trays will still be permitted in specific scenarios, such as pre-packed salads, ready-to-eat meals, and takeaway orders.