Thank you to those who took the time to contact me about plastic waste.
We clearly need serious action on plastic pollution and single-use plastics. I support measures designed to promote better use of our natural resources, increasing reuse and recycling and aiming for a zero-waste economy.
I am aware of ongoing international negotiations for a global plastics treaty. I understand the aim is to conclude negotiations by the end of 2024. I assure you I will follow developments on this.
I want to see Government and business working together for a circular economy. Too often, high quality, long-lasting products are effectively undercut by poor-quality goods designed for single use or a short lifetime.
I also recognise the importance of taking the public with us. Without buy-in from the public, we are unlikely to achieve the change and progress our planet desperately needs.
In my view, the Government is not showing the bold and comprehensive leadership required to tackle the waste crisis facing our country.
Its statutory target on waste does not include a specific plastic target, aiming instead to halve by 2042 waste per person sent for residual treatment. I am concerned delivery is running behind even this relatively modest target and that the inadequacies of waste collection and recycling systems mean that used compostable packaging also tends to end up in landfill or incineration.
A ban on single-use plastics for cutlery, balloon sticks, polystyrene cups and food containers began in October 2023. However, I supported efforts to amend the Environment Act 2021 to allow charges against all single-use materials to tackle our throwaway economy and culture. The Government has recently announced plans for a limited ban on the supply of plastic based wet wipes.
I am further disappointed the Government’s Deposit Return Scheme, which is due to include plastic containers, has been delayed again until October 2027. Plastic litters our streets, parks, rivers and seas. I support a Deposit Return Scheme to stop this waste and clean up our environment.
I also want to see the Government take action on the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries as it pledged to do. I believe we should begin work to prohibit the exportation of waste consisting wholly or mostly of plastic alongside addressing the underlying drivers of the waste problem.
