Plastic carrier bags
All retailers is must now charge consumers for most single-use plastic bags supplied to them. This is to stop plastic waste (there was a huge reduction in the number used when large supermarkets were required to charge before smaller businesses were) and to encourage the use of reusable bags. Trading Standards will take action against businesses that do not charge when they should.
More information can be found here:
- Carrier bags: why there's a charge - GOV.UK
- Carrier bag charges: retailers' responsibilities - GOV.UK
Single-use plastic goods
Many single use plastic goods are now banned, see New bans and restrictions on polluting single-use plastics come into force - GOV.UK
Disposal of vapes and electrical equipment
Although trading standards do not enforce them (other teams in the council do), retailers of vapes and electrical equipment are legally required to recycle used items. We advise traders of these requirements and can help them find out the detail of what they must do.
Energy Efficient Standards
See advice in Letting agencies and private tenants section.