New legislation is set to ban single-use plastic cutlery and plates and fall in line with other parts of the UK.
The ban will only impact single-use plastics sold in restaurants or cafe’s, not supermarkets or shops.
The move follows similar action in Wales and Scotland and aims to combat plastic pollution and help protect the environment.
According to the organisation Plastic Oceans, up to 50% of plastic produced is for single-use purposes.
John Barrow, the head chef of a Chartwells catering group based at Bournemouth University backs the move.
He said: “We already made the switch from single use plastics before I came here, and I think it’s great.
“Cheffing has never been a particularly environmentally friendly industry, but for me it’s about doing as much as you can for the climate.”
Chartwells have already begun a move to a more environmentally friendly output before the governments proposed change.
Mr. Barrow added: “We’ve been using bagasse takeaway boxes, which are made of sugar cane fibre and completely compostable and fully recyclable. It’s definitely the more the merrier for me in terms of environmental action.”
Dorset Devils, a volunteer litter picking group based in Bournemouth, welcome the change but still believe more can be done.
Peter Ryan, founder of Dorset Devils said: “The government’s proposal is certainly welcome although they’re behind the times. It is a tiny step, and we certainly need to move on from here and stop the production of plastic at its source rather than towards the end of their life, especially when they’re single-use.”
Mr. Ryan says that many beachfront businesses have already dropped single use plastics, and the Dorset Devils are instead finding wooden cutlery in place of their plastic predecessors.
He continued: “Changing procedures is good, but changing behaviours is the hardest nut to crack. Some of the blame lies on the people who litter rather than the government or businesses.”
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