The 10 most common single-use plastic items found on beaches are now banned in Ireland

Polystyrene is the main target of the ban.

As of this week, straws, plastic bottles, coffee cups and takeaway containers made from certain materials are banned in the European Union. The directive targets items made from expanded polystyrene in particular, which are no longer allowed to be sold in the EU. The 10 most commonly found single-use plastic items on European beaches, alongside fishing gear, represent 70% of all marine litter in the EU. The Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive requires all 27 EU member states to enforce the new guidelines, while Norway will also implement the directive as a member of the European Economic Area. “Single use plastics can cause a lot of damage to the environment," Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune said. "These products are used once and then thrown away and are likely then to end up in our seas, causing a lot of damage. I welcome the ban on these items and the EU is aiming to become a forerunner in the global fight against marine litter and plastic pollution. I also welcome the news that there are new packaging requirements for other items such as wet-wipes planned to come into force. “EU rules on single-use plastic products are aiming to prevent and reduce the impact of certain plastic products on the environment and it is important that we all play our part. The EU rules also aim to promote the transition to a circular economy.” The 10 items being addressed by the Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive are:

• Cotton bud sticks
• Cutlery, plates, straws and stirrers
• Balloons and sticks for balloons
• Food containers
• Cups for beverages
• Beverage containers
• Cigarette butts
• Plastic bags
• Packets and wrappers
• Wet wipes and sanitary items