STROUD businesses must not supply ready-to-consume food and drink in polystyrene containers as of Sunday. 

This includes polystyrene cups, single-use plastic cutlery or balloon sticks.

Failure to do so could result in a fine.

Tony Davey, Chair of the Stroud Chamber of Commerce and town councillor, says many independent traders have already phased out single use plastic.

He said: "On the whole we are ahead of the game and minimising our impacts on the environment.

"Sometimes choosing products and approaches to reduce our impact on the environment can cost a little more.

"However, as they are more widely adopted, hopefully the economies of scale will level this out.

“Initiatives that support better practices in an achievable way are important to the Chamber, such as our Stroud Town initiative to reuse before recycle, which works well with sundries deployment across the town.”

Stroud Mayor Stella Parkes has applauded traders' efforts and says the new single-use plastic ban is a win-win for the town.

She said: "It's good for the environment on two fronts.

"It reduces our dependence on plastic and should help with the amount of litter in the town as more businesses encourage recycling of packaging. 

Complaints about a business breaking the law can be made to Trading Standards.

For more information, go to: tinyurl.com/2svc4pcs