Comprehensive Legislation
Friends of the Earth and the Federation of Women's Institutes drew up The Plastic Pollution Bill. It would form comprehensive legislation to:
- End the use of non-essential single-use plastics by 2025.
- Progressively reduce the overall use of non-essential plastic in England.
- Prevent plastic pollution of the environment as a result of human activity as a result of human activity as far as is possible using the best practical means by 2042.
- Progressively eliminate plastics pollution from the environment and where it is not possible to prevent or eliminate pollution, the pollution must be minimised as far as is possible using the best practicable means.
The Plastic Pollution Bill had the support of around 80 MPs and had a second reading on 29th January 2021. As part of co-ordinated efforts by Friends of the Earth, we encouraged the local MPs at the time, Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson, to support the bill.
The Environment Act 2021
The government of the time did not support The Plastic Pollution Bill and instead chose to enact The Environment Act 2021.
- It provides no stuctured timetable for plastic reduction. Hence reduction in plastic pollution may be a slow process.
- There is no obligation to introduce the Deposit Return Scheme and Extended Producer Responsibility. Indeed neither has yet been introduced.
- It is not comprehensive, omitting many forms of plastic. Microplastics are one example, estimated to constitute over 50% of plastic pollution in the UK.
- Focus continues to be on recycling plastic rather than reduction. Reduction is vital to effectively reduce plastic pollution.
- Plastic is considered a recyclable waste stream. The term 'plastic recycling' is disputed. The creation and processing of such toxic material cannot be considered to be part of a healthy cycle.
- The Plastic Packaging Tax is unfit for purpose.
- Implementation of The Resources and Waste Strategy 2018.
- Consistency in recycling procedures across England.
- Charges for single-use items.
Comprehensive legislation to deal with plastic pollution is vital. We continue to make the case for it.