Ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds comes into force in England

clock • 3 min read

The long-delayed ban on single-use plastic items in England is aimed at stemming the rising tide of plastic waste entering environment and oceans

The supply of plastic straws, stirrers, cotton buds and other plastic items in England is now illegal, with the long-delayed ban on a host of single-use plastic items having finally come into effect today,...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Policy

'Break the link': Could the government finally stop gas setting power prices?

'Break the link': Could the government finally stop gas setting power prices?

A new report from Common Wealth explores how the government might deliver reforms that tackle windfall renewables profits and curtail fossil gas’ ability to set power prices

clock 20 March 2026 • 10 min read
Steel Strategy: Government touts tariffs and green steel innovation to save domestic industry

Steel Strategy: Government touts tariffs and green steel innovation to save domestic industry

Plans to double tariffs on steel imports and boost domestic steel production through electric arc furnaces confirmed as part of new £2.5bn Steel Strategy

Michael Holder
clock 19 March 2026 • 8 min read
'A big step forward': The green economy reacts to the Land Use Framework

'A big step forward': The green economy reacts to the Land Use Framework

Politicians, farmers, businesses, nature groups, and climate campaigners react to the government's long-awaited plan for managing competing demands on land across England

BusinessGreen staff
clock 18 March 2026 • 10 min read