I have long believed – long before I became an MP – that plastic pollution is one of the gravest threats to our oceans, wildlife, and planet at large. Without urgent action to cut demand, it is estimated 34 billion tonnes of plastic will have been manufactured globally by 2050. That is a shocking indictment on humanity. Far, far less plastic needs to be produced in the first place.
I also agree that a single-use plastic target should be included in the Environment Act.
Slashing plastic use is something I have campaigned on. As Cheltenham’s MP, I launched and led the “Final Straw” campaign in Cheltenham, calling on the Council and local businesses to eradicate single-use plastic straws from our town.
In Parliament, I voted to ban plastic microbeads, the tiny plastics in face wash and other cosmetic products, which make their way into our seas. That is now law. In addition, the introduction of a plastic bag charge has led to nine billion fewer carrier bags in circulation, a drop of 83 per cent.
I have been campaigning for the introduction of a bottle deposit return scheme (DRS) in England. This would mean that people would pay a small extra charge on their bottled goods from supermarkets, as a deposit, and are then returned the amount upon the return of their used bottles in a ‘reverse-vending machine’.
At a national level, the Resources and Waste Strategy for England sets out the Government’s plans to reduce, reuse, and recycle more plastic than we do now. Ministers have committed to work towards all plastic packaging placed on the market being recyclable or reusable by 2025.
Significant progress has already been made to address plastic pollution. This includes introducing one of the world’s toughest bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products and restricting the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds. The use of single-use carrier bags has been reduced in the main supermarkets by over 97 per cent and this has been increased to 10p and extended to all retailers.
The Government recently consulted on proposals to ban the supply of single-use plastic plates, cutlery, and balloon sticks, and expanded and extruded polystyrene food and beverage containers, including cups. Ministers are committed to addressing other sources of plastic pollution and ran a call for evidence on other problematic plastic items, including wet wipes, tobacco filters, sachets, and other single-use cups.
As you refer to, the Environment Act requires the Government to set at least one long-term target in the areas of resource efficiency and waste reduction. I understand that the Government recently consulted on its target to reduce residual waste. The consultation closed on 27 June 2022. Over 180,000 responses were received, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is currently analysing responses and I look forward to reading the Government’s response.
Ministers want to ensure that the targets take a holistic approach to all materials and avoid unintended substitution effects. As well as being significant global environmental waste and pollution issue, plastics are strong, durable, and versatile materials, bringing environmental and economic benefits. Setting wider-reaching targets that encourage reductions in our consumption of materials more broadly, not only plastics, will help ensure we achieve the best environmental outcome.