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. I am determined that we should cut down on plastic waste as a society.
This is something I have campaigned on. As Cheltenham’s MP, I launched and led the “Final Straw” campaign in Cheltenham, successfully 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 9 billion fewer carrier bags in circulation, a drop of 83 per cent.
Recycling is also critical. 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’.
As you will know, the Resources and Waste Strategy for England sets out the Government’s plans to reduce, reuse, and recycle more plastic and Ministers have committed to work towards all plastic packaging on the market being recyclable or reusable by 2025.
Further, restrictions on a range of single-use plastics, including plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers have now come into force. England uses 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery and over 700 million single-use plates per year, but only 10 per cent are recycled. This new ban is the next step in cracking down on harmful plastic waste.
Through the Environment Act 2021, the Government has set a target is to halve residual waste by 2042. This refers to waste that is sent to landfill, put through incineration, or used in energy recovery in the UK or overseas.
This is an intentionally bold target, which will include the most environmentally harmful materials like plastics, rather than banning a single type of material and risk producers moving to a different, more harmful material.
Finally, it is important that we promote UK-based recycling and export less waste to be processed abroad. I am therefore pleased that we are recycling more in the UK than ever before. This is not only good for the environment but can boost economic growth and create jobs.
Where the UK cannot currently recycle materials economically, exports can help ensure those materials are recycled in recipient countries.
While there is a legitimate global market for secondary materials, it must be, and is, subject to strict controls.