UK government seeks views on proposed plastic packaging tax

The UK government has launched consultations on the introduction of new plastic packaging taxes and tougher rules for packaging producers, in a move towards a more circular economy. Building on commitments made in the Resources and Waste Strategy published in December, new plans will see the costs of recycling borne by those that produce packaging waste. It is estimated that packaging producers pay “around 10%” of the cost of dealing with packaging waste. By increasing that to cover the full amount, the government aims to incentivise producers to think carefully about using less packaging, and to switch to using packaging that is easier to recycle. Last October, the government announced that from April 2022 it would introduce a new tax on the production and import of plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content, subject to consultation.