UK government seeks ban of single-use plastic plates and cutlery and polystyrene cups
November 20, 2021, 8:46 am

UK government seeks ban of single-use plastic plates and cutlery and polystyrene cups

Single-use plastic plates/Pixabay

The Indian Express reported according to Reuters that British government said on Saturday, single-use plastic plates and cutlery and polystyrene cups could all be banned in England as the government seeks to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste.

England uses 1.1 billion single-use plates and 4.25 billion items of single-use cutlery, most of which are plastic, per year, but only 10 per cent are recycled upon disposal, it said.

Under proposals in a 12-week public consultation, businesses and consumers will need to move towards more sustainable alternatives.

The government also launched a separate call for evidence to address other sources of plastic pollution, such as wet wipes, tobacco filters, sachets and other single-use cups.

Polystyrene cups/Pixabay

Banning plastic in these items could be a future policy measure.

environment minister George Eustice said: “There is growing recognition of the damage that plastics cause to our environment and marine life in particular. We want to reduce the use of plastics in packaging and ban its use in items linked to littering."

“We have already banned plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds and now plan to extend the ban to cutlery and balloon sticks where alternative materials, like wood can be used.”

A ban on supplying plastic straws and stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds came into force in England last year.

Forced charges for single-use carrier bags has cut consumption in the main supermarkets by 95 per cent since 2015.

The devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are responsible for their own policies on plastic waste.

Source: indianexpress

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”