Plastic plates, cutlery and food containers to be axed from October

PLASTIC plates, cutlery and food containers will be axed from October.

It will apply to take-aways but not those used in shelf-ready pre-packaged food.

Single-use balloon sticks, bowls and trays will also be outlawed.

Wet wipes, tobacco filters and plastic sachets could be next.

Britain uses 2.7billion items of single-use cutlery a year.

Just ten per cent are recycled.

Minister Thérèse Coffey said the bans “continue work to protect the environment”.

She added: “We all know the absolutely devastating impacts that plastic can have on our environment and wildlife.

"We have listened to the public and these new single-use plastics bans will continue our vital work to protect the environment for future generations."

The Sun revealed news of the upcoming ban last year.