On the 21st September Defra issued the following guidance: Straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers ban: rules for businesses in England.
The crux of it is that businesses must stop supplying single-use plastic straws, cotton buds, and drink stirrers in England from 1 October, except for exempt uses (see below). And if they fail in that they could be fined. Local authorities are tasked with inspections, enforcement and setting the fines. Local authorities must publish details of fine levels and when it will impose them, on their websites.
If businesses have stock of the items bought before 1st October then they can continue to supply the remaining stock until 1st April 2021. If, by any chance, business have bought supplies of plastic straws or cotton buds to end-users, or drink stirrers after 1st October then these must not be sold on.
After 3rd July 2021, drinks products with attached single-use plastic straws must not be supplied to the public.
The definition of single-use plastic in these three contexts is set as:
- straw is made wholly or partly from plastic and is not designed or intended to be reused
- cotton bud is a rod made wholly or partly of plastic with cotton wrapped around one or both ends and is not designed or intended to be reused
- drink stirrer is made partly or wholly of plastic and is designed and intended for stirring drinks
Exemptions
Plastic straws
The aim of these exceptions is to ensure disabled people or those with accessibility issues can still use them.
Pharmacies can supply single-use plastic straws
- but they must not
- display straws to customers
- advertise single-use plastic straws in store - though they can online
Catering establishments can supply single-use plastic straws with food and drink for immediate consumption
- but they must
- keep straws where customers cannot see them or help themselves to them
- only give straws to customers that request them
- not offer them to customers either verbally or in writing
A catering establishment is any of these businesses that supply food or drink ready for consumption without further preparation:
- restaurant
- canteen
- club
- public house
- similar establishment including a vehicle or a fixed or mobile stall
Medical devices and procedures that might employ a single-use plastic straw are exempt
Packaging - some medicines might be supplied within a single-use plastic straw - these are exempt.
Care homes, prisons, schools and early years providers can supply single-use plastic straws but they are encouraged where possible to find alternatives.
Single-use plastic cotton buds
Some exemptions to the ban exist for medical devices or purposes or for scientific reasons such as diagnostic, educational or research purposes. Also forensic service providers may be supplied with single-use cotton buds.
Inspections
These will be carried out by local authorities to check the law is being adhered to. In order to carry out inspections local authorities can visit premises, make test purchases, speak to staff and demand records. Inspectors can order the recovery of the costs of the investigations if the business is breaking the law.
