MPs urge government to tackle plastic pollution at source

12th September 2019


Web waste uk istock 991390276 1

Related Topics

Related tags

  • Food and drink ,
  • Recycling ,
  • Sustainability ,
  • Waste

Author

Michael Conroy

The UK government has failed to tackle the root causes of plastic pollution by paying insufficient attention to the reduction of single-use packaging in the first place.

That is according to a report released today by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, which warns that the UK cannot recycle its way out of the pollution crisis.

The cross-party group of MPs called for a plastic packaging tax, with lower fees applied to higher levels of recycled content, and argued that this should apply to imports too.

The committee also warned that bio-plastics are a “false solution“, highlighting how biodegradable cups pose just as much of a problem to marine life as conventional plastic once in the sea.

“My committee is also concerned that compostable plastics have been introduced without the right infrastructure or consumer understanding about how to dispose of them,“ committee chair, Neil Parish, said.

“Fundamentally, substitution is not the answer, and we need to look at ways to cut down on single-use packaging.“

Ultimately, the gulf between consumption of plastic and recycling capacity in the UK means much more focus is needed on reduction and reuse, according to the report.

The committee urged ministers to conduct a review of reusable and refillable packaging systems to determine what works and where government intervention is needed.

In addition, parliament should lead by example and attempt to remove single-use packaging from all its catering facilities.

Despite calling for more focus on packaging reduction, the MPs said they support government proposals to improve the recycling rate with extended producer responsibility, a deposit return scheme and consistency in recycling collections.

“This report provides a much-needed legislative health check, said Juliet Phillips, oceans campaigner at the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), which is quoted throughout the report.

EIA urges the government to take note of its findings, introducing a long-term strategy to catalyse a wholesale transition away from wasteful, unnecessary single-use packaging and towards reusable and refillable solutions.“

Image credit: ©iStock

Subscribe

Subscribe to IEMA's newsletters to receive timely articles, expert opinions, event announcements, and much more, directly in your inbox.


Transform articles

Facing the climate emergency challenge in local government

It’s well recognised that the public sector has the opportunity to work towards a national net-zero landscape that goes well beyond improving on its own performance; it can also influence through procurement and can direct through policy.

19th March 2024

Read more

Dr Julie Riggs issues a call to arms to tackle a modern-day human tragedy

15th March 2024

Read more

Disgraced environmental consultant Peter Lovebrother is another month nearer retirement…

13th March 2024

Read more

The UK government’s carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) strategy is based on optimistic techno-economic assumptions that are now outdated, Carbon Tracker has warned.

13th March 2024

Read more

The UK’s new biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements could create 15,000 hectares of woodlands, heath, grasslands, and wetlands and absorb 650,000 tonnes of carbon each year.

13th March 2024

Read more

The UK government’s latest Public Attitudes Tracker has found broad support for efforts to tackle climate change, although there are significant concerns that bills will rise.

13th March 2024

Read more

Multinational corporations are undermining their net-zero commitments with excessive air travel and no plans to reduce ‘the low hanging fruit’ of carbon footprints, a study by Transport & Environment has found.

13th March 2024

Read more

The UK government’s climate adaptation plans are ‘inadequate’ and falling ‘far short’ of what is required, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has warned today.

13th March 2024

Read more

Media enquires

Looking for an expert to speak at an event or comment on an item in the news?

Find an expert

IEMA Cookie Notice

Clicking the ‘Accept all’ button means you are accepting analytics and third-party cookies. Our website uses necessary cookies which are required in order to make our website work. In addition to these, we use analytics and third-party cookies to optimise site functionality and give you the best possible experience. To control which cookies are set, click ‘Settings’. To learn more about cookies, how we use them on our website and how to change your cookie settings please view our cookie policy.

Manage cookie settings

Our use of cookies

You can learn more detailed information in our cookie policy.

Some cookies are essential, but non-essential cookies help us to improve the experience on our site by providing insights into how the site is being used. To maintain privacy management, this relies on cookie identifiers. Resetting or deleting your browser cookies will reset these preferences.

Essential cookies

These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website.

Analytics cookies

These cookies allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors to our website and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works.

Advertising cookies

These cookies allow us to tailor advertising to you based on your interests. If you do not accept these cookies, you will still see adverts, but these will be more generic.

Save and close