Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, has welcomed plans from the Government to ban usage of polluting single-use plastics from October 2023.

The ban will include single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers.

According to estimates, England uses 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery — most of which are plastic — and 721 million single-use plates per year, but only 10% are recycled. If 2.7 billion pieces of cutlery were lined up they would go round the world over eight and a half times (based on a 15cm piece of cutlery).

The ban will be introduced from October 2023, allowing businesses time to prepare, and means consumers won’t be able to buy these products from any business - including retailers, takeaways, food vendors and the hospitality industry.

Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, said: “Plastic pollution can take hundreds of years to break down, causing serious damage to our country’s oceans, rivers and land. Many people across Bosworth have written to me about this so I am delighted to share the news that action is being taken.

“I welcome the Government’s plans to ban polluting single-use plastics later this year as the next important step in our work to provide a healthier planet for future generations by eliminating avoidable plastic waste.”

The Secretary of State for Environment, Thérèse Coffey, said: “We all know the absolutely devastating impact that plastic can have on our environment and wildlife. We have listened to the public and these new single-use plastics bans will continue our vital work to protect the environment for future generations.”

Rebecca Pow, the Environment Minister, added: “By introducing a ban later this year we are doubling down on our commitment to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste.

“We will also be pressing ahead with our ambitious plans for a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and consistent recycling collections in England.”