The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Act 2023 (“the Act”) is a new law which will make it a criminal offence to supply or offer to supply (including for free) certain single-use plastic products to consumers in Wales.
This law will ban the sale or supply of certain single-use plastic products in Wales, unless an exemption applies. The intention is to introduce the bans in “phases” to allow businesses time to use existing stock and to buy or make alternatives.
Welsh Government will introduce Phase 1 of the ban of single-use plastic products on 30 October 2023 and for it to include:
- Single-use plastic plates – this includes paper plates with a laminated plastic surface
- Single-use plastic cutlery – for example forks, spoons, knives
- Single-use plastic drinks stirrers
- Cups made of expanded or foamed extruded polystyrene.
- Takeaway food containers made of expanded or foamed extruded polystyrene
- Single-use plastic balloon sticks
- Single-use plastic-stemmed Cotton buds
- Single-use plastic drinking straws – with exemptions so people who need them to eat and drink safely and independently can continue to have them
Phase 2 of the ban of single-use plastic products by Spring 2026 and for it to include:
- Carrier bags – with exemptions including carrier bags for raw fish, meat or poultry and unpackaged food
- Polystyrene lids for cups and takeaway food containers
- Oxo-degradable plastic products
Information for businesses
Before the bans come into force
Businesses can consider the impact these bans could have on them. Businesses may, for example, want to consider how they could:
- Reduce stock levels of the single-use plastic products being banned
- Switch to reusable alternatives
- Look for non-plastic, single-use alternatives
When the bans come into force
When the bans come into force businesses will have to:
- Stop providing customers with banned single-use plastic products.
- Tell their staff about these changes.
Once the bans are in force if businesses still have banned products they may want to speak to suppliers, your local council or trade association about how to recycle it.
There are many alternatives to single-use plastics products already on the market. Please read the guidance at the bottom of this page which have more details on alternatives.
Help for businesses
Welsh Government will continue to work closely with businesses, manufacturers, public sector groups, communities and groups representing people with protected characteristics to ensure everyone understands what the bans mean for them.
If you require further support or advice on these bans, please contact Welsh Government at singleuseplastic@gov.wales or via post:
Local Environment Quality Division
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff CF10 3NQ
