Committees

Plastic waste

Inquiry

Despite growing awareness of the effects of plastic pollution, a large proportion of plastic waste is still not recycled, and the UK currently exports large quantities of plastic packaging overseas, where it may end up being managed unsustainably. 

The UK Government has set a target of eliminating all 'avoidable' plastic waste by 2042, with a shorter-term ambition to “work towards” only recyclable, reusable or compostable plastic packaging being placed on the market by 2025. Measures they have announced include a plastic packaging tax, a deposit return scheme, and banning some single-use plastics, like straws.   

This inquiry scrutinises the level of the Government’s ambition, whether current measures on plastic waste go far enough, and how alternatives to plastic consumption can be identified and supported. 

Read the call for evidence for more information about this inquiry.

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was 11:59pm on 9 September 2021.

Upcoming events

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No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Tuesday 10 May 2022
2:00pm Private
2:30pm Public
Plastic waste - Oral evidence 10 May 2022
2:30pm
  • Jo Churchill MP (Minister for Agri-Innovation and Climate Adaptation at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
  • Chris Preston (Deputy Director, Resources and Waste at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
  • Steve Molyneux (Deputy Director, Waste Regulation at Environment Agency)
Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 22 March 2022
2:00pm Private
2:30pm Public
Plastic waste - Oral evidence 22 March 2022
2:30pm
  • Nihan Temiz Ataş (Biodiversity Project Lead at Greenpeace Mediterranean)
2:45pm
  • Megan Randles (Political Campaigner at Greenpeace UK)
  • Dr Tim Rotheray (Director of ESG and External Affairs at Viridor)
  • Mr Jacob Hayler (Executive Director at Environmental Services Association)
3:45pm
  • Dr Carolyn Deere Birkbeck (Director at Forum on Trade, Environmental Sustainability)
  • George Riddell (Trade Strategy Director at Ernst & Young LLP)
Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 18 January 2022
2:00pm Private
2:30pm Public
Plastic waste - Oral evidence 18 January 2022
2:30pm
  • Professor Andrew Dove (Professor of Chemistry, School of Chemistry at University of Birmingham)
  • Kathy Page (Programme Manager, Environment, Science Policy Unit at Royal Society of Chemistry)
  • Professor Rachel Rothman (Professor of Sustainable Chemical Engineering, Co-Director Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures at University of Sheffield)
  • Professor Mark Miodownik (Professor of Materials & Society at University College London)
3:30pm
  • Richard Daley (Managing Director and CTO of chemical recycling company at ReNew ELP)
  • Professor Michael Shaver (Director, Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub, Professor of Polymer Science at University of Manchester)
  • Jenny Grant (Head of Organics and Natural Capital at The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA))
  • Steve Fletcher (Professor of Ocean Policy and Economy and Director of Revolution Plastics at University of Portsmouth)
Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 7 December 2021
2:00pm Private
2:30pm Public
Plastic waste - Oral evidence 7 December 2021
2:30pm
  • Sian Sutherland (Co-founder at A Plastics Planet)
  • Jude Allan (Chair at IOM3 Packaging Society)
  • Kevin Vyse (Head of Technical at ProAmpac RAP)
3:30pm
  • Andrew Opie (Sustainability and Food Director at British Retail Consortium)
  • Steven Butts (Head of Corporate Responsibility at Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd)
  • Hellen Stirling-Baker (Founder of Small Stuff, and Lead Board member for Sustainability at British Independent Retailers Association)
Room 15, Palace of Westminster

Related information

Contact us

We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone. Please be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints.

  • Email: efracom@parliament.uk
  • Address: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA