DEFRA have announced new waste reforms on Simpler Recycling, Digital Waste Tracking and Carrier, Broker and Dealer regime. They provided the following information:
Today (Saturday 21 October 2023) we have launched three new waste reforms. These are
- Simpler Recycling for Households and Businesses in England
- Introduction of mandatory digital waste tacking across the UK
- Reforming the waste carrier, broker and dealer regime in England (regulations for those transporting and managing waste).
We want to make it easier for people to do the right thing, maximise use, minimise waste and drive-up recycling rates.
Together these measures are a significant step to reducing, reusing, and recycling more of our waste and resources. They will help us achieve our 25 Year Environment Plan to eliminate avoidable waste by 2050, our Environment Act target to halve the amount of residual waste we produce by 2042, and our ambition of recycling 65% of municipal waste by 2035.
Excellent progress has already been made with new restrictions and bans on single-use cutlery, balloon sticks, expanded and extruded polystyrene food and drinks containers and restrictions on single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, that came into force on 1 October 2023.
To boost recycling, we are moving forward with the implementation of our Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers and Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for packaging.
We have introduced a ban on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products, restrictions on the supply of single-use plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds, and our world-leading Plastic Packaging Tax. Meanwhile, our single-use plastic carrier bag charge has successfully cut sales by over 97% in the main supermarkets.
