Treasury and DEFRA Consultations on Recycling and Packaging Published

The Government has published a series of consultations on recycling and packaging, pursuing commitments announced in the Waste and Resources Strategy.The consultations include plans to make packaging producers pay the full cost of dealing with their waste and a new tax on plastic packaging which falls below a minimum of 30 per cent recycled content.  

The DEFRA Consultation on Extending Producer Responsibility Regulations focuses on extending producer responsibility regulations so that producers cover the full net cost of managing their packaging at end-of-life (the ‘polluter pays’ principle).

DEFRA proposes a number of measures which aim to reduce the amount of unnecessary and difficult-to-recycle packaging, and increase the prevalance of easily-recyclable packaging. 

The Treasury consultation on plastic packaging tax follows a call for evidence published last year on using the tax system to address the problem of single-use plastic waste. The tax will apply to businesses that produce or import plastic packaging which uses less than 30 per cent recycled content, will take effect from April 2022.

For more information or feedback on either of the consultations please contact Catherine Courtney.