March 25, 2021 - 802 views
Landmark reforms that will boost recycling, tackle plastic pollution and reduce litter have taken a step forward as ministers from across Wales and the UK unveil the latest proposals to overhaul the waste and resources sector.
This includes:
- A Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers: consumers will be incentivised to take their empty drinks containers to return points hosted by retailers. Every year across the UK, consumers go through an estimated 14 billion plastic drinks bottles, nine billion drinks cans and five billion glass bottles. The scheme would cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a separate scheme already under development in Scotland.
- Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging: manufacturers will pay the full costs of managing and recycling their packaging waste, with higher fees being levied if packaging is harder to reuse or recycle. In 2019, approximately 11.7 million tonnes of packaging was placed on the UK market. We must ensure that more of this recyclable or reusable. The scheme is being developed on a UK-wide basis.
- The third of our major reforms, will see the introduction of consistent recycling collections for all households and businesses in England. This will also be going out to consultation shortly.
Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Environment for the Welsh Government, said: "I am very pleased to move to the next round of our joint consultations on the preferred design of a deposit return scheme for drink containers, and extended producer responsibility for packaging waste.
"The schemes are fundamental to our efforts to decrease waste, increase recycling and tackle plastic pollution and littering. As set out in our recently published Beyond Recycling strategy, they are key commitments which support our move to a Circular Economy, as part of our aim to be a zero waste and zero carbon nation by 2050.
"I welcome views from all stakeholders on our proposals, and look forward to hearing the views of respondents once the consultation is complete."
Environment Secretary George Eustice said: "Through our world-leading Environment Bill we are transforming the way we deal with waste.
"Tackling plastic pollution lies at the heart of our efforts, and we have already taken steps to ban microbeads, cut supermarket sales of single-use plastic bags by 95% and prohibit the supply of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds.
"These new changes will further ensure that more of what we consume is recycled and reused. They will stimulate the creation of alternatives to single-use plastics and establish consistent rules to help people recycle more easily across the country."
Together this action will help the UK build back better and greener from the pandemic, and boost our global leadership in tackling climate change and plastic pollution, as hosts of major climate summit COP26 this year, President of the G7 and a key player in the UN Biodiversity Conference this autumn (CBD COP15).
The packaging changes are being developed on a UK-wide basis, while the Deposit Return Scheme will cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A separate scheme is already under way in Scotland, and administrations will work to ensure compatibility between the schemes.
