Trading Standards - Have your say

This consultation has closed following a two-week consultation which concluded September 2025. 

We gathered views through a two-week consultation in August which concluded September 2025, with 14 residents providing feedback, of these 12 (86%) were positively supportive of the guidance, only 2 (14%) expressed constructive feedback.

All feedback has been essential in reviewing the guidance, but also in assisting to identify various areas of improvement allowing us in our provision of a service that identifies trading malpractices and target resources where they are needed most.

Context: 

Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards enforces the ban on selling or supplying certain single-use plastic items, including plates, bowls, trays, cutlery, and polystyrene food and drink containers. As part of this role, the council must explain how it will use fines, warnings, and other penalties included in these rules.

This consultation has closed following a two-week consultation which concluded July 2025. 

We gathered views through a two-week consultation in July 2025 on the new guidance which concluded July 2025, with 16 residents providing feedback, of these 14 (88%) were positively supportive of the guidance, only 2 (13%) expressed constructive feedback.

All feedback has been essential in reviewing the guidance, but also in assisting to identify various areas of improvement allowing us in our provision of a service that identifies trading malpractices and target resources where they are needed most.

Context:

On 1 June 2025 it became illegal in the UK to sell or supply single-use vapes under the Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024. This ban includes any 'disposable' vapes which are not refillable and which contain a battery which cannot be recharged. It is intended to reduce the environmental harm caused by the waste from these products when they have been discarded or disposed of, and also to reduce vaping among young people.

Staffordshire County Council is responsible for making sure the rules in the Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024 are followed. As part of this role, the council must explain how it will use fines, warnings, and other penalties included in these rules.