Businesses face huge fines for continuing to use single-use plastic

Businesses giving out single-use plastic items could face fines of up to £10,000 or 10 per cent of their turnover from today.

The government's single use plastic ban came into effect at midnight, and outlaws items such as plates, carrier bags, straws, stirrers, cutlery, polystyrene food containers and cups, and balloon sticks.

Exemptions include plastic bags for uncooked meat and fish, some plastic straws and cotton buds, compostable plastics and some carrier bags.

Businesses caught using them can face civil sanctions from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.