NON-RECYCLABLE plastic takeway boxes are on their way to being banned in Oxford after council approval last night.

Oxford City Council’s licensing committee approved new street trader policy which states that all packaging and utensils used by customers should be made of biodegradable or recyclable materials.

Businesses will be allowed to use up existing stock, but will have to make the change when they apply for their next annual licence.

The council hopes the rule for all kebab and burger vans, thought to be the first of its kind in the UK, will reduce the amount it sends to landfill.

But an industry expert warned the policy will encourage people to litter.

Executive director of the Foodservice Packaging Association Martin Kersch, who lives near Oxford, said: “This is a misplaced policy.

“Banning a particular material won’t get rid of litter. It merely replaces one type of packaging with another.

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“What the council is saying is ‘if it’s biodegradable, it’s ok to litter’, but it will still be there the next day.”

He said polystyrene is already recyclable and the council should just increase its fine for littering, currently £80.

But Seydi Vakas Canen, who runs Botley Kebab, said: “It might be a good idea. It won’t make a big difference to us but it could make a difference to the environment.”

The licensing committee meeting followed an eight week public consultation on the policy.

One anonymous responder said: “It would be better if all packaging and utensils had to have vendor’s name and then fines imposed when any bit of rubbish found.”

Committee member Colin Cook said he did not expect the new policy to affect the amount of litter.

He said: “I don’t think this will make any difference to people’s habits, but it will reduce the amount that goes to landfill.”

He said council officers collect waste from city centre bins and sort it into landfill and recycling, and would be checking for polystyrene.

The council will also randomly check vans to ensure they obey the rule.

But he added: “If there is anything that goes behind a bush there would now be a greater chance of it biodegrading on its own.”

The new street trader policy also states that street traders should not normally be allowed within 100m of any school or college between 7.30am and 6pm.

More than 70 per cent of consultees agreed with that proposal, aimed at stopping youngsters eating too much fast food.

The policy will now have to be approved by the full council.

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