The Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020
Title: The Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020
Amends/Commences: None - New Regulation
Comes into force: 1st October 2020, except for regulation 4(3) and 4(4). Regulation 4(3) and 4(4) come into force 3rd July 2021.
Jurisdiction: England
The Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020 apply to single-use plastic straws, single-use plastic stemmed cotton buds and plastic drink stirrers. They apply to businesses and organisations which supply or offer to supply these products to end users.
Single-use plastic straws
Businesses and organisations may not supply or offer to supply a single-use plastic straw to an end user unless the following exemptions apply.
Exemptions exist for:
- Retail pharmacy businesses;
- Supply of existing stock;
- Catering establishments;
- Relevant devices and medical purposes;
- Packaging; and
- Certain other establishments.
Single-use plastic stemmed cotton buds
It is an offence for a business, to supply or offer to supply a single-use plastic stemmed cotton bud to an end user.
Exemptions exist for:
- Relevant devices and medical purposes
- forensic purposes
- scientific purposes
- ·supply of existing stock
No one is permitted to supply or offer to supply a plastic drink stirrer unless the following exemptions apply.
Exemptions: supply of existing stock
The supply of plastic drink stirrer may be permitted if:
- the supply or offer to supply is made within the period of six months beginning with the 21st September 2020; or
- the person supplying or offering to supply the product obtained the product before the 21st September 2020.
Any person contravening restrictions in these Regulations will be liable to receive any of the following forms of civil sanctions:
- Variable monetary penalty
- Compliance notice
- Notice of intent
- Stop notice
- Non-compliance penalties