Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Third Report - The price of plastic: ending the toll of plastic waste
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
HC 22
Published 7 November 2022
Recommendations
15
Acknowledged
Para 72
However, there is a risk that PPT, as currently designed, will not deliver against its...
Recommendation
However, there is a risk that PPT, as currently designed, will not deliver against its intended objectives. A flat 30% recycled content requirement may well prove too easy for some sectors to achieve while acting as an unavoidable financial penalty …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the recommendation to modulate the Plastic Packaging Tax, stating that the pEPR Scheme Administrator will prepare a statement on modulating fees and seek business views, but rejects hypothecating fees towards research.
25
Acknowledged
Para 118
We heard that waste crime is a low risk, high reward endeavour and that current...
Recommendation
We heard that waste crime is a low risk, high reward endeavour and that current punishments are insufficient to deter illegal activity, contrary to the objectives of the EA’s Enforcement and Sanctions policy. We recommend that sanctions for companies caught …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the Committee on the importance of the waste hierarchy and states that they have been developing a new Waste Prevention Programme for England and have set a statutory target to cut residual waste.
Conclusions (6)
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 23
Despite progress in reducing the use of some problematic plastics and plastic products and creating an uplift in recycled content in new plastic production, progress in tackling plastic waste appears to have slowed in recent years. Current initiatives are clearly not driving progress as effectively as possible. Some of the …
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with dropping "avoidable" from the target of eliminating avoidable plastic waste by 2042, citing the need for realism and potential for worse environmental outcomes when substituting plastics in certain situations, and notes its plans for monitoring progress.
5
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 34
The introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging is a welcome reform that has the potential to drive progress towards a more sustainable plastics economy. However, the lack of information about the EPR fee scheme and the two-year delay in implementation mean that achieving meaningful change in packaging design …
Government Response Summary
The government remains committed to introducing pEPR on a phased basis from 2024, focusing initially on payments for household packaging waste and introducing modulated fees later to incentivize recyclability, while engaging with stakeholders and providing guidance.
10
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 54
We understand that promoting plastic reuse is a challenging part of this policy area but increasing the uptake of reusable packaging is essential for reducing the total amount packaging consumed in the UK. Government must ensure that any Extended Producer Responsibility system fully incentivises all routes for tackling plastic waste—not …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that more use of reusable packaging is desirable and states its intention to consider appropriate measures to encourage the use of reusable/refillable packaging, such as targets and obligations on businesses. They intend to come forward with their proposals in 2024.
20
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 98
There is no technological silver bullet to resolve the challenges of recycling plastic waste. We welcome the work of the previous Government and industry to strengthen the mechanical recycling sector. However, it appears likely that this will need to be supported by other technologies in order to create a circular …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges that chemical recycling has a role to play where mechanical recycling is not viable. They also agree on the importance of clarity when labeling and note the CMA published guidance for businesses in 2021 to help them understand and comply with consumer protection laws.
29
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 140
Better data is essential for delivering a circular economy. More effective information will enable an understanding of the scale of the problems faced, the composition of the plastics put on the market and what systems are needed to help society dispose of or recycle products more sustainably. Upcoming government reforms …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that better data is essential and key to informing policy development and welcomes the support for mandatory recyclability labelling on packaging.
30
Conclusion
Acknowledged
However, the incoming Government needs to join up its existing proposals for data collection under Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging and waste tracking to create a unified system. The previous Government’s argument—that such a system is less useful for ‘single-use items’ like packaging—is flawed. Packaging needs to be valued so …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees better data is essential and key to informing policy development and welcomes support for mandatory recyclability labelling. They plan to use the waste tracking service to incorporate waste information recording requirements.