Plastic Waste

Thank you for contacting me about plastic waste.
 
Without urgent action to cut demand, it is estimated 34 billion tonnes of plastic will have been manufactured globally by 2050. I am therefore pleased that the 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment commits the Government to working to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste, with action at each stage of the product lifecycle: production, consumption and end of life.
 
To keep products in circulation for longer Ministers are taking steps through the Environment Bill to require products to be designed to be durable, repairable, and recyclable, as well as legislating for the use of extended producer responsibility schemes in a way that incentivises more resource efficient design. The Environment Bill also includes powers to enable the Government to deliver on other commitments in the Strategy which will improve the quantity and quality of the materials we recycle. These include commitments on extended producer responsibility; implementation of a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers; and introduction of consistent recycling collections across the country. 
 
The Government has also announced key details of the world leading Plastic Packaging Tax at the 2020 Budget, which will help to tackle the pressing issue of plastic waste. The initial rate of the tax will be £200 per tonne and it will be paid by manufacturers and importers of plastic packaging that contains less than 30 per cent recycled plastic.
 
Building on the microbeads ban, I am pleased that restrictions on the supply of plastic straws, drinks stirrers and cotton buds will come into force in October 2020, with exemptions to ensure that those with medical needs or a disability are able to continue to access plastic straws. 
 
Finally, since the plastic bag charge was first introduced in 2015, the Government has successfully prevented billions of plastic bags being sold and ending up in the ocean and environment. I am pleased that this charge will now be increased to 10p and extended to all retailers to build on this success from April 2021. 
 
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.