Government Confirms Response To Plastic Packaging Tax By End Of Year

The BPF has been working with Wera Hobhouse MP (former Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change) on chemical recycling in order to better understand the new government’s position on this important policy area. Following conversations with the BPF, Ms Hobhouse tabled 3 Parliamentary Questions on Chemical Recycling, as a result of which we now know:

1. The government intends to publish a response to the Plastic Packaging Tax consultation on adoption of a mass balance approach by the end of the year.
    
2. The government believes that chemical recycling technologies have a role to play together with mechanical recycling in helping us transition towards a circular economy by supporting the reduction in virgin plastic stock used in production.
    
3. The government believes that policies such as the UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax help support innovation, growth and jobs in the waste management and the recycling sectors, including within chemical recycling.

The BPF will continue to work with politicians and key stakeholders on chemical recycling to secure a positive outcome for the UK plastics industry.

If you're interested in the topic of chemical recycling, we have an online seminar on the topic taking place on 17 October.

Furthermore, as Select Committee Chairs have been elected (see full list here), the BPF will be writing to all relevant Select Committee Chairs to request meetings once Parliament returns after Party Conference season. Many of the MPs are already well known to the BPF following meetings we held with them earlier in the year. The new Chairs will take up their positions when the remaining members of the Committee have been appointed by the House of Commons. 

Author: Harriet Dyball