Dear Parliamentary candidate,

I’m writing to ask for your support ahead of the general election. Sunday 16th June is World Refill Day - a big opportunity for candidates to show they back a transition away from single-use plastic. Earlier this year, the UK’s largest plastic waste survey, The Big Plastic Count, revealed that the country throws away 1.7 billion pieces of plastic packaging each week! The UK produces the 2nd highest amount of plastic waste per person in the world!

Recent research from City to Sea showed that 80 percent of Brits are taking action to reduce their use of single-use plastic and are willing to do more, but they can’t find alternatives where they shop. Introducing more products in refillable and reusable packaging would make them more accessible for people to buy, which would radically reduce the amount of single-use plastic on the market.

The general election is just weeks away. I’m writing to you to call on the UK Government to lead supermarkets and big brands towards reuse by setting legally-binding targets to accelerate the transition to reuse in the UK. We strongly believe that 30 percent of all packaging should be reusable by 2030, supported by further bans on unnecessary single-use plastic packaging.

Will you show your support this World Refill Day and step up for reuse? You can pledge your support by emailing info@citytosea.org.uk with the words “I support legally-binding targets for reuse”. The campaign will then send you social media assets and template local press release that you can use ahead of World Refill Day on 16th, so everyone knows you back refill and reuse!

We are all counting on you. A reusable future is possible, but we need to act now.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Bell
Refill Swindon / Plastic Free Swindon co-ordinator

Dear Ben,

Thank you for contacting me. I’d be delighted to support World Refill Day.

I look forward to receiving further information from you leading up to the 16th.

Yours,

Robert

Hi Ben,

Totally supportive of the principle, of course!

Do you have more info on how they came to this policy and this target figure? Obviously 'reduce' is even better than 'reuse', and most of the examples on the website fall into the 'reduce' category. I'd hate to support a policy that would accidentally create an incentive for companies to produce even more packaging, just to hit their 'reuse' quota. Feels like this one might have unintended consequences if the policy isn't quite right.

Cheers,

Rod

Hi Rod,

Thanks for supporting this in principle.

I wrote to Refill HQ to answer your question. Here's the response:

"We couldn't agree more. More single-use plastic waste is produced than could ever possibly be processed. In the UK, only 12% is known to be recycled. We need to urgently shift from our dominant single-use culture to a more sustainable and circular future.

That's why we follow the waste hierarchy by prioritising reduce and reuse over recover and recycle. We believe they work together to embed meaningful systemic change and prevent plastic pollution at source. Our campaign Refill raises awareness on the problems, and champions more conscious choices for a move away from single-use.

Our research showed that people in the UK are ready to take action to reduce their use of single-use plastic but can't find reusable alternatives where they shop. Reusable packaging currently represents less than 2% of packaging on the market in the UK. Setting specific, legally-binding and time-bound targets to introduce reusable packaging in the market will lead retailers and industries to tackle plastic pollution, alongside a roll out of EPR, single-use packaging bans and robust targets for Global Plastics Treaty. That will provide a level-playing field for businesses to adapt, change their business model and meet growing demand. You can find more information on our policy hub and targets by visiting City to Sea website here: Policy Hub - City to Sea - Calling for Change."

Kind regards,

Ben

Happy to support it, Ben.

Reckon it would need really thoughtful implementation to avoid poor application, but all for it!

Rod

Dear Ben,

Thank you for contacting me about plastic waste, and World Refill Day this weekend.

I know that World Refill Day provides an opportunity to highlight both how we can play our part as consumers to reduce our use of single-use plastics and the need to create sustainable supply chains.

We clearly need serious action on plastic pollution and single-use plastics. I support measures designed to promote better use of our natural resources, increasing reuse and recycling and aiming for a zero-waste economy. Labour's manifesto, published yesterday, made the commitment to move to a circular economy.

I am aware of ongoing international negotiations for a global plastics treaty, which I think is critical when we are part of a complex global economy. I understand the aim is to conclude negotiations by the end of 2024. I assure you I will follow developments on this. I want to see Government and business working together for a circular economy; too often, high quality, long-lasting products are effectively undercut by poor-quality goods designed for single use or a short lifetime.

I also recognise the importance of taking the public with us. Without buy-in from the public, we are unlikely to achieve the change and progress our planet desperately needs. I don't believe the Conservatives have shown the bold and comprehensive leadership required to tackle the waste crisis facing our country. Its statutory target on waste does not include a specific plastic target, aiming instead to halve by 2042 waste per person sent for residual treatment. I am concerned delivery is running behind even this relatively modest target and that the inadequacies of waste collection and recycling systems mean that used compostable packaging also tends to end up in landfill or incineration.

I am further disappointed that the Government’s Deposit Return Scheme, which is due to include plastic containers, has been delayed again until October 2027. Plastic litters our streets, parks, rivers and seas. I support a Deposit Return Scheme to stop this waste and clean up our environment. If elected, I will also want to see the Government take action on the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries. I believe we should begin work to prohibit the exportation of waste consisting wholly or mostly of plastic alongside addressing the underlying drivers of the waste problem.

Thank you once again for contacting me on this important issue.

Regards,

Heidi

Hi Heidi,

Thanks for your response.

You mention plastic recycling. The oil industry and Coca Cola have known that it was unsustainable since the early 1970s. A recent study of a UK plastic recycling facility estimated that up to 75 billion microplastic particles were being released into each cubic meter of wastewater. A system reliant on plastic recycling and waste-to-energy / waste incineration is unhealthy and unsustainable, using unnecessary resources and energy, and disproportionately afflicting poor people and nations.

The way to deal with plastic pollution is to reduce plastic production. Reuse is a key part of doing that. Will you pledge your support for legally binding targets for reuse?

Kind regards,

Ben

Ben,

Apologies for your lack of a reply.

The Lib Dems, led by Ed Davey would support the deposit return scheme for food and drink containers with consistency across the UK, and would be “learning the lessons from the difficulties with the Scottish scheme”.

On plastics, the party said it wanted the complete elimination of non-recyclable, single-use plastics within three years with “an ambition” to end plastic waste exports by 2030. Plastics would be replaced by affordable alternatives.

Lib Dems would also support moves to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 through the UN High Seas Treaty and a Global Plastics Treaty to cut plastic pollution worldwide.

The manifesto said nothing directly about local government and recycling but committed to “decentralise decision-making from Whitehall and Westminster by inviting local areas to take control of the services that matter to them most”

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Stan

Hi Stan,

Thanks for responding in lieu of your local candidates.

Regarding the policy to enact the 'complete elimination of non-recyclable, single-use plastics within three years with “an ambition” to end plastic waste exports by 2030': Which plastics are truly recyclable? A recent study of a UK plastic recycling facility estimated that there were 75 billion microplastic particles per metre cubed of wastewater. This is not recycling, it is pollution.

Coming back to the term "non-recyclable": There are over 10,000 chemicals which constitute plastics. 2400 are considered potentially hazardous. Around a third have not been tested for safety. This myriad of chemicals makes the processing of waste plastic polluting, expensive, complicated, and unviable. Hence virgin plastic production is often favoured.

The points I make show why we must move towards reduction and reuse rather than continue a highly polluting system of plastic 'recycling' which uses unnecessary energy and resources.

Kind regards,

Ben

Hi Ben,

I absolutely support a rapid transition away from single-use plastics.

As I’m sure you’ll be aware, the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas has been instrumental in attempting to pass legislation that would have banned them (apart from certain exceptions such as some medical applications).

Our manifesto commits to increasing the scope of the current, limited, bans on the production of single-use plastics for things like packaging and disposable products such as baby wipes, as in many cases alternatives already exist. We would also significantly increase investment into the research and development of alternatives, so there would no longer be any excuse for continuing to use them.

The use of refillable packaging should be an important part of this. This could be the ability to take a container to be refilled at the shop where you bought it, or for a manufacturer to accept returns and reuse them.

It is also important that, if something is not reusable, then it should be *genuinely* recyclable, and that the facilities should exist within the UK for recycling materials without a negative impact on the environment from harmful by-products of the recycling process.

Regards,

Andy

Hi Andy,

Yes, I am aware that Caroline Lucas was among those trying to implement strong, timetabled legislation that would have radically reduced plastic production / pollution but that it was passed up by the current government for the less effective, and convoluted Environment Act.

I agree with your point about recycling. Most plastics produced are not genuinely recyclable. The process of plastic 'recycling' is more accurately described as pollution. Energy and resources are also used. These are unnecessary processes with detrimental impacts on the environment and health.

Can you please clarify whether you support legally-binding targets for reuse?

Thanks,

Ben

Hi Ben,

Yes, I do. Voluntary targets don't work.

Regards,

Andy

Ben,

Apologies for your lack of a reply.

The Lib Dems, led by Ed Davey would support the deposit return scheme for food and drink containers with consistency across the UK, and would be “learning the lessons from the difficulties with the Scottish scheme”.

On plastics, the party said it wanted the complete elimination of non-recyclable, single-use plastics within three years with “an ambition” to end plastic waste exports by 2030. Plastics would be replaced by affordable alternatives.

Lib Dems would also support moves to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 through the UN High Seas Treaty and a Global Plastics Treaty to cut plastic pollution worldwide.

The manifesto said nothing directly about local government and recycling but committed to “decentralise decision-making from Whitehall and Westminster by inviting local areas to take control of the services that matter to them most”

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Stan

Hi Stan,

Thanks for responding in lieu of your local candidates.

Regarding the policy to enact the 'complete elimination of non-recyclable, single-use plastics within three years with “an ambition” to end plastic waste exports by 2030': Which plastics are truly recyclable? A recent study of a UK plastic recycling facility estimated that there were 75 billion microplastic particles per metre cubed of wastewater. This is not recycling, it is pollution.

Coming back to the term "non-recyclable": There are over 10,000 chemicals which constitute plastics. 2400 are considered potentially hazardous. Around a third have not been tested for safety. This myriad of chemicals makes the processing of waste plastic polluting, expensive, complicated, and unviable. Hence virgin plastic production is often favoured.

The points I make show why we must move towards reduction and reuse rather than continue a highly polluting system of plastic 'recycling' which uses unnecessary energy and resources.

Kind regards,

Ben