Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of which targets, incentives and disincentives are effective in reducing harmful plastic production and waste; and what actions they plan to take at (1) European Union, (2) Council of Europe, and (3) international, levels in order to effect such reductions.

Plastics play a vital role in most facets of our daily lives. The industry also contributes enormously to our transition to a green economy, particularly through the development and supply of low carbon products and solutions which help manufacturing sectors. Nevertheless, we recognise that the production and disposal of plastic presents challenges: plastics are long-lived in the natural environment and can cause damage when disposed of irresponsibly; and some chemical additives have the potential to be damaging to human health and the environment, during the life of the plastic product and when it is disposed of.

There is a strict limit on the levels of heavy metals permitted within plastic packaging, the plastic parts of electrical & electronic equipment and vehicles placed on both the UK market and the wider EU single market. In addition, the EU Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) provides the means to control the most dangerous chemicals. The use of a chemical substance, such as an additive in plastics, can be restricted if it presents an unacceptable risk. Alternatively, a hazardous substance may only be allowed in uses that are specifically authorised, either because the risk is adequately controlled or the socio-economic benefits of continued use outweigh the risks.

To reduce the environmental impact of single use plastic carrier bags we are requiring larger stores to charge 5p for such bags from 5 October this year. The experience of other parts of the UK suggests that this could reduce usage from these stores by up to 80%. We also encourage packaging producers to use a minimum level of packaging, including plastic packaging. The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations require that packaging should not exceed what is needed to ensure that products are safe, hygienic and acceptable to the consumer. These Regulations are enforced by Trading Standards.

In addition, the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations place a legal obligation on businesses that make or use packaging to ensure that a proportion of the packaging they place on the market is recovered and recycled. The recycling target for plastic packaging waste placed on the market by businesses obligated under these regulations is 47% for 2015 rising to 52% in 2016 and 57% in 2017.

The Government is in the process of responding to the European Commission’s consultations on the circular economy which will inform a package of proposals on resource efficiency and waste, and which are expected to be published by the end of this year.