Single-use plastic cutlery and some type of food containers will be phased out from October this year, the Government has confirmed.

It comes almost a year after a consultation on the changes found 95 per cent of respondents were in favour of the ban, which will affect plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, and some types of polystyrene cups and food containers.

According to estimates, England uses 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery — most of which are plastic — and 721 million single-use plates — per year, but only 10 per cent are recycled.

If 2.7 billion pieces of cutlery were lined up they would go round the world over eight and a half times, the Government says.

The government is to ban single-use plastic items in a bid to reduce environmental damage

From October, people won’t be able to buy these products from any business, including shops, takeaways, food vendors, cafes and restaurants.

The Government says the time frame will allow businesses to adapt.

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said: “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.

“I am proud of our efforts in this area: we have banned microbeads, restricted the use of straws, stirrers and cotton buds and our carrier bag charge has successfully cut sales by over 97 per cent in the main supermarkets.”

Government to phase out some single-use plastic cutlery