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Select Committee · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Plastic waste

Status: Closed Opened: 7 Jul 2021 Closed: 4 Aug 2023 21 recommendations 9 conclusions 1 report

Despite growing awareness of the effects of plastic pollution, a large proportion of plastic waste is still not recycled, and the UK currently exports large quantities of plastic packaging overseas, where it may end up being managed unsustainably. The UK Government has set a target of eliminating all 'avoidable' plastic waste by 2042, with a …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - The price of plastic: ending the toll of pla… HC 22 7 Nov 2022 30 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
3 Recommendation Third Report - The price of plastic: en… Accepted in Part

We also recommend that other government targets be revised to reflect and implement the waste...

We also recommend that other government targets be revised to reflect and implement the waste hierarchy. These changes should cover: • Reducing the volume of plastic that is put on the market. Where plastic is replaced with other materials, the new Government should commit to monitoring whether those replacement materials …

Government response. The government agrees with the Committee on the importance of the waste hierarchy and states that it has been developing a new Waste Prevention Programme for England, aiming to embed a circular economy approach. They also recognise the importance of …
6 Recommendation Third Report - The price of plastic: en… Accepted in Part

We recommend that the new Government reaffirms its commitment to Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging...

We recommend that the new Government reaffirms its commitment to Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging and a re-accelerated process to implement the system in order to meet the targets set for 2025. This requires publication of a consultation on EPR fees and any accompanying guidance in early 2023 and the …

Government response. The government remains committed to introducing pEPR on a phased basis from 2024, focusing initially on payments for household packaging waste managed by local authorities, with modulated fees introduced at a later date. They will engage with producers and stakeholders …
21 Recommendation Third Report - The price of plastic: en… Accepted in Part

By 2023, the Government should update its infrastructure roadmap to set out its plan for...

By 2023, the Government should update its infrastructure roadmap to set out its plan for the future role of chemical recycling and composting within our plastics economy and waste management system. In particular, the Government must make a decision, based on the latest evidence about their impact on soil health, …

Government response. The government will publish the ‘Waste Infrastructure Roadmap’ this year; agrees with the importance of clarity when labelling, pointing to CMA guidance and reaffirming its position that compostable plastics have a limited role given they are inherently single use, and …

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
10 May 2022 Chris Preston · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Jo Churchill MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Molyneux · Environment Agency View ↗
22 Mar 2022 Dr Carolyn Deere Birkbeck · Forum on Trade, Environmental Sustainability, Dr Tim Rotheray · Viridor, George Riddell · Ernst & Young LLP, Megan Randles · Greenpeace UK, Mr Jacob Hayler · Environmental Services Association, Nihan Temiz Ataş · Greenpeace Mediterranean View ↗
18 Jan 2022 Jenny Grant · Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), Kathy Page · Royal Society of Chemistry, Professor Andrew Dove · University of Birmingham, Professor Mark Miodownik · University College London, Professor Michael Shaver · University of Manchester, Professor Rachel Rothman · University of Sheffield, Richard Daley · ReNew ELP, Steve Fletcher · University of Portsmouth View ↗
7 Dec 2021 Andrew Opie · British Retail Consortium (BRC), Hellen Stirling-Baker · British Independent Retailers Association, Jude Allan · IOM3 Packaging Society, Kevin Vyse · ProAmpac RAP, Sian Sutherland · A Plastics Planet, Steven Butts · Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd View ↗
30 Nov 2021 Adrian Whyle · Plastics Europe, Dr Adam Read · SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd, Mr Barry Turner · British Plastics Federation (BPF), Mr Richard Hudson · Chartered Institute of Waste Management, Paula Chin · WWF-UK, Susan Evans · Green Alliance View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
16 Jun 2022 To cttee Letter from Minister Churchill to the Committee regarding Plastic Waste, dated …