The EU has set out the market ban.
A ban on ten of the most commonly littered items comes into place this weekend.
The Single-Use Plastics Directive sets strict rules for reducing the type of products and packaging which are among the top ten most frequently found items polluting European beaches.
Single use plastics such as cups, straw, stirrers and cotton buds are all part of the regulations set out by the EU.
A deposit refund scheme for plastic bottles and cans will also be introduced toward the end of next year.
The directive also says tobacco producers have to foot the bill - for the clean-up of cigarette butts containing plastic filters.
Here's the full list of items banned from the market from today:
- Cotton bud sticks
- Cutlery
- Plates
- Stirrers
- Chopsticks
- Straws
- Expanded polystyrene single use food and beverage containers
- All oxo-degradable plastic products
The EU directive will also see other measures come into effect over the next few years.
By 5 January 2023, producers of packaging of certain single-use plastics will be required to cover the costs of litter clean up.
While from January 2025, drink producers will have to have at a minimum of 25% recycled plastic in their single-use plastic bottles.
