WINTER 2018 • SPOTLIGHT • 27


PRODUCERS RESPONSIBILITY


There must be increased pressure on producer responsibility for the plastic products produced for the UK market. Existing arrangements could be reformed to encourage recyclability to be built in at the design stage, while incentivising the maximum use of recycled content. Regulations could tax or ban the use of non-recyclable products or those that use particularly difficult materials, and they could ban some single use plastic products. A 25p charge has recently been suggested to control the use of non-recycleable or hard to recycle coffee cups in the UK, which may reflect the success the 5p carrier bag charge had in reducing the number of single use plastic bags used by shoppers. Black plastic used for ready meal containers is also difficult to recycle and creates the kind of contamination problems the Chinese are trying to avoid. Why is this material still being used if it is recognised to be a problem and there are economic alternatives?


We think it is time to take advantage of the current mood, while there is a public focus on plastics, people should learn more about their purchasing decisions and recycling actions. On a larger scale, it is at times of crisis or failure that policy makers become open to new ideas, or old ones recycled. This is one such failure which offers a real opportunity to wake up and improve our environmental impact.


Environmental and economic sustainability need to work hand in hand. The current challenges we face provide us with the perfect opportunity to create jobs and wealth in the UK, while reducing carbon emissions and ensuring that we protect our oceans, beaches and countryside from pollution.


It’s time for change!


CHRIS MONKHOUSE | HEAD OF WASTE, ENERGY & MINERALS | +44 20 7344 6821 KATIE PERKS-BEATTIE | ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR | +44 20 7487 1798


Colliers International


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