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Our online Council Tax, Business Rates and Housing Benefit service will be unavailable from Saturday 22 February 2025 until 10.00am on Monday 24 February 2025, whilst we carry out essential system maintenance. You can still make a payment during this time.

Single use plastic ban/restrictions for businesses


Retailers, suppliers and manufacturers must not supply, sell or offer certain single use plastic items in England.

The ban covers single use plastic cutlery, plates, trays and bowls, balloon sticks, polystyrene cups, and food and drink containers. There are also restrictions on other single use plastic items including straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers, and charges for carrier bags.

There are exemptions to the law, depending on the single use plastic item.

Effect on the environment

Many of these items generate avoidable plastic waste which can then find its way into rivers and oceans and on land.

Research shows that every year, England uses:

  • 4.7 billion plastic straws
  • 316 million plastic stirrers
  • 8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds
  • 2.7 billion items of single use cutlery
  • 721 million single-use plates


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