Rules on packaging have tightened steadily. England has banned plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, followed by single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks and certain polystyrene food and drink containers, with some exemptions such as straws for people who need them. Scotland and Wales have their own similar bans. Extended producer responsibility is shifting the cost of packaging waste onto businesses that place it on the market, and under Simpler Recycling, businesses in England with ten or more employees have had to separate recyclable waste since March 2025, with micro-firms following from March 2027.
Licensed premises must already provide free tap water on request, and many venues happily refill water bottles. Reusable cup schemes, discounts for bringing your own cup and deposit systems for takeaway containers are all growing. The trick is to check that alternatives genuinely reduce waste, since some compostable packaging only breaks down in industrial facilities. Ask your waste contractor what they can actually process.
What we ask on the show
- Are compostable cups really better?
- Should venues charge for disposable cups?
- What's the hardest single-use item to replace?
- Do guests actually bring reusable cups?