Assorted plastic packaging

Consultations on Packaging Waste

Packaging schemes must go further and faster to tackle Climate Emergency

The Government recently shared some plans for two pieces of legislation. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) will make companies responsible for dealing with their packaging at the end of its life. A Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will mean shoppers will pay a deposit on soft drinks, which they get back when returning their empty bottles or cans. The Government asked for feedback through a consultation process. NLWA has responded and you can read our full responses:

The proposals are a good start, but, given that we are in the middle of a Climate Emergency, we think they need to go further – and faster – if these schemes are to make a real difference to the health of the planet. Our firm views are that:

  • There must be no further delays to the EPR and DRS plans
  • Further action is still needed on waste prevention and packaging reuse before the end of its life. 
  • There is an urgent need for a simple, clear labelling system for everyday goods so that people know what packaging can be recycled, and what can’t.
  • Local authorities should have powers to make recycling compulsory.

Here’s a bit more detail on some of our main concerns with the proposals, and what we are calling on the Government to do: 

 

Planet earth

1. Delays cost the Earth

  • There must be no further delays to the EPR and DRS plans, which have been delayed by over a year after a previous consultation in 2019.

By the time the first of these schemes are introduced in 2023, 28 billion more plastic bottles will have been bought in the UK alone and globally, 2 million seabirds and 200,000 marine mammals will have been killed through eating plastic.

Reusable alternatives

2. Prioritising prevention and reuse

  • Further action is still needed on waste prevention and packaging reuse before the end of its life. 
  • Under the plans, no specific action is expected on these issues until 2025. This gives producers the green light to churn out single-use plastic for another 4-5 years.

By 2025, at least 12.5m tonnes of avoidable plastic packaging will be produced in the UK alone and global plastic production will have increased by 30%

Food packaging

3. Labelling – drive out the doubt

  • There is an urgent need for a simple, clear labelling system for everyday goods so that people know what packaging can be recycled, and what can’t.
  • Labels should also show whether packaging is covered by the DRS when that is introduced.

Contamination of recycling with items like nappies, food and clothes, wastes the recycling efforts of millions of people and costs taxpayers £2m a year in north London alone.

 

Man recycling cans

4. Implementation of proposals

  • A successful DRS is accessible and clear for consumers to avoid confusion and maximise the benefit to the environment.
  • Producer responsibility should be expanded to apply to more materials including mattresses, furniture and textiles as well as smaller, difficult-to-recycle items such as plastic plant pots, cigarettes, chewing gum, wet wipes and disposable nappies.

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Published date
10 June 2021