Tag Archive: recycling

Are you ready for the Plastic Packaging Tax?

Posted 18th January 2021 at 11:48 am

Looking ahead to next year (already!) from 1st April 2022 a Plastic Packaging Tax will come into force.   The aim of this new tax is to encourage the use of recycled rather than new plastic within plastic packaging. The government have announced that the rate of tax will be set initially at £200 per tonne of plastic packaging that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic. Affecting UK producers of plastic packaging, importers of plastic packaging, business customers of producers and importers of plastic packaging, the tax will provide a clear economic incentive for businesses to use recycled... Read more

Single-use plastic: A Covid conundrum

Posted 17th August 2020 at 4:21 pm

Prior to the pandemic, countries around the world were making strides in eliminating plastic waste, primarily by discouraging single-use plastics.   Government initiatives such as the plastic bag charge, and plastic straw ban, were complemented by organisational initiatives such as certain coffee chains offering a discount for customers who brought reusable cups, or supermarkets redesigning their packaging to use less plastic. All this was helping to protect the planet from the harm of plastic waste. However, along came Covid-19, and suddenly the idea of ‘reusable’ plastics and their alternatives became, well, a bit icky! Even now that you can go... Read more