Single-use plastic ban timeframe criticised File Image. SunLive. '); } else { // } Anti-plastic campaigners and plastic producers are both critical of the four-year plan to phase out the harmful packaging, saying it falls short on plastic bottles and PVC. The government has released details of its three-stage plan to delete difficult-to-recycle items from shelves and keep an estimated two billion single-use plastics out of landfills each year. There will be no more PVC meat trays, plastic cotton buds or polystyrene takeaway containers by late next year, then in mid-2023, the country will wave goodbye to plastic fruit labels, straws, produce bags, cutlery, bowls and plates.