Plastic packaging companies to pay recycling costs in UK waste scheme
A new waste scheme was launched on Tuesday by the government that will “make the polluter pay” by forcing plastic packaging firms to cover the total collecting and recycling costs.
The new plan will also include more strategies to tackle plastic pollution and food waste.
Supermarkets could also be charged higher fees for plastic items difficult to recycle and lower fees for packaging that is easier to reuse.
Costs to retailers and packaging producers will rise under the new waste scheme, to between £500m and £1bn annually.
Currently it is down to taxpayers through local authorities who pay for 90% of the costs of recycling (business just account for 10% of funding) but with the scheme, businesses who “pollute” would have to pay for their own damage to the environment.
“Together we can move away from being a throwaway society to one that looks at waste as a valuable resource,” said environment secretary Michael Gove.
“We will cut our reliance on single-use plastics, end confusion over household recycling, tackle the problem of packaging by making polluters pay, and end the economic, environmental and moral scandal that is food waste.”
Commenting on the release, head of Climate, Energy and Environment Policy at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, Roz Bulleid said: “Manufacturers are keen to play their part in the circular economy and are pleased to finally see more detail from government on its plans.
"More consistent waste and recycling collections and better product labelling should help lead to an improvement in the quality of recycled material, making it a more promising option for manufacturers.
"However, EEF’s members will be concerned about the potential cost implications of some proposals, particularly around extended producer responsibility, mandatory guarantees and extended warranties, and anxious to engage with government on the detail of its plans.”