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.