MATERIALS & COMMODITIES
Mixed opinions from industry leaders on Bud get proposals to boost plastics recycling
THE Environmental Services Association (ESA) has recently welcomed announcements in the Budget to tax plastic packaging containing less than 30% recycled content. In a speech lasting over an hour, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond, covered various announcements, including a tax on plastic packaging which does not contain enough recycled materials – but still no disposable plastic cup tax. Responding to the Chancellor’s Budget, ESA’s Executive Director, Jacob Hayler said: “The industry has long been calling for measures to support end markets for recycling. Without stimulating the demand for recycled material, higher recycling rates will be unachievable. “Today, the Chancellor has listened, and we welcome proposals to introduce a new tax on plastic packaging that contains less than 30% recycled content, rather than to penalise Energy from Waste.
“An incineration tax would only burden local authorities and the industry without doing anything to support greater recycling, and we are glad the Treasury recognises the importance of Energy from Waste in sustainable waste management.” Paul Taylor, FCC Environment Chief Executive, stated also welcomed a new tax on the production and import of
60 SHWM November, 2018
plastic packaging. Paul added: “With Brexit fast approaching, we have the opportunity to renew our focus on resource effi ciency and productivity, and build a domestic waste policy fi t for the future.” But not everyone is convinced. UKWSL, the UK’s second-fastest growing waste and resource management fi rm (Catalyst Corporate Finance Fast 50), have highlighted more needs to be done about abandoned waste sites. Max Kanda UKWSL Managing Director, said: “The £10m assigned to deal with abandoned waste sites in the Budget will help to reduce the impact of waste crime on local communities. “However, much more must be done to tackle this and other associated waste crime which was estimated in 2017 as costing the legitimate waste industry and the taxpayer £600million every year. The scale of the waste crime problem is staggering with the Environment Agency declaring another 850 new illegal waste sites in 2016/17 as well as record high levels of fl y-tipping. Jeff Rhodes, head of environment & external aff airs at Biff a, also had doubts. He said: “As expected, following the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan announced earlier this year, plastics were once again in the spotlight in the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget today.
“While a new tax on plastic packaging containing less than 30 per cent recyclable plastic was welcomed, the chancellor refused at this stage to go so far as introducing a tax on single-use plastics. “Although this is a tactic which may lead to some improvement in recycling rates, the conditions placed on this tax mean it simply does not address the larger issues at hand currently prohibiting critical progress. “Taxes can be an eff ective tactic as seen previously with the plastic bag levy, but we need to go back to the source. Waste producers must bear greater fi nancial responsibility for the design, collection and treatment of plastic products, rather than passing costs and problems along the supply chain.
“We also need to reduce the reliance on export markets
for secondary materials which has created complacency, low
investment in UK infrastructure, and a lack of urgency on waste management at its source.”
Biff a’s ‘Reality Gap’ report examined the last national waste strategy in 2011, which only resulted in the nation’s recycling performance plateauing. Jeff stated a full policy review is overdue, which is why the Government’s new Resources & Waste Strategy cannot be delayed any longer.
www.skiphiremagazine.co.uk
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