The British Plastics Federation (London / UK; www.bpf.co.uk) has given a cautious welcome to government proposals to overhaul the waste system in the UK that include forcing packaging producers to pay for the cost of dealing with the waste they produce. UK environment secretary Michael Gove set out the plans published earlier this week, which as well as the “producers pay” target included reducing plastics pollution, more consistent household recycling in England and a planned deposit-return scheme for cans and bottles in England (see Plasteurope.com of 05.04.2018), Wales and Northern Ireland.

To improve the recycling of an estimated 3 bn plastic bottles that are incinerated, landfilled or littered in the UK, the government has proposed two options. One is the “all-in” model that would target beverage containers of any size. The second option, the “on-the-go” model, would restrict drinks containers to those less than 750 ml in size. The government looks to the success of deposit-return systems operating in countries like Denmark, Finland, Germany – see Plasteurope.com of 25.02.2019 – the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, where return rates are high.

The BPF’s director-general, Philip Law, said his organisation had been calling on government to improve the UK’s recycling system for a number of years. “In broad strokes these consultations represent a positive step in that direction,” he added.

Law said the BPF wanted to see a drive to improved consistency in collections to ensure more plastic material was collected for recycling. Life should also be made easier for consumers to recycle, packaging designed in such a way as to minimise waste, measures that would control the export of waste packaging materials should be implemented and partnership working by councils increased to improve efficiencies. “It is also true that in efforts to protect our ecosystems we must take account of the sustainable advantages of plastic packaging, namely in reducing food waste and helping lower greenhouse gas emissions.”

Regarding the government’s plan to tax plastic packaging that did not meet the minimum 30% recycled content threshold, Gove said it would “address the current issue of it often being cheaper to use new, non-recycled plastic material despite its greater environmental impact.” The consultation on the planned plastic packaging tax – see Plasteurope.com of 31.10.2018 – closes on 12 May 2019.

Alluding to proposed taxation on plastic packaging, Law said, “It is also essential that in these actions the government ensures the cost burden to both consumers and businesses is minimised, and that the manufacturing industry in the UK is not disadvantaged, especially at this time of economic uncertainty when our industry needs the support of government to ensure it remains a strong force on the global stage.”

In a report published in 2018, Eunomia had noted the complexity of materials taxation as a policy option in relation to necessary border tax adjustments and the need to understand the primary and recyclate content of all materials imported and exported – Plasteurope.com of 03.12.2018. A fee-rebate scheme was favoured.