DEFRA - Resources and Waste Strategy for England

Earlier this week DEFRA released their newly launched Resources and Waste Strategy for England. This is a 146 page document, which we know you all have on your Christmas list! So spoiler alert, we have summarised and listed the key areas industry can welcome that are incorporated in the document including:

1. An intention to pursue eco design combined with a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) approach.
2. Renewed focus on the waste hierarchy.
3. Supporting the aims of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
4. Drive towards a consistent set of materials being collected with an emphasis on quality both of which are critical as we transition to a circular economy.
5. The proposed adoption of a level playing field in any revision to the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme, including where all obligated parties participate and no inherent advantage is given to the export of waste.
6. A crack down on waste crime. 

All of the above will support a drive towards a circular and more sustainable plastics industry in the UK.  Some areas that we will be reverting back or monitoring for clarification include the following:

2.1.3 Extension of bans on single use plastics this needs watching 

5.2.3 Plastic free aisles

7.1.1 Plastics – rationalising the number of polymers in use

6.1.1 Present plastic tax proposal and likely plastic recycling targets that may be adopted.

P13  Key milestones: Include a recycling target of all plastic packaging placed on the market being recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025 in line with the Plastic Pact target.

P106 Agricultural film