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<p>While compostable materials may be seen as a solution to reduce the impact of waste,
they can also be more environmentally damaging than non-compostable materials if disposed
of incorrectly. The Government is concerned that, some claims about the compostability
of plastic-based products cannot be verified.</p><p> </p><p>In order to consider impacts
carefully, Defra and BEIS published a call for evidence to help us consider the development
of standards or certification criteria for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable
plastics, and to better understand their effects on the environment and our waste
management system. We are currently analysing responses to the call for evidence and
will publish the Government’s response shortly.</p><p> </p><p>Our Resources and Waste
Strategy sets out our ambition to transition to a circular economy by keeping resources
in the system for longer and extracting maximum value from them, before recycling
materials when they can no longer be reused. We have recently published consultations
on introducing Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging and introducing a Deposit
Return Scheme for drinks containers. These consultations will inform policy that will
transform the economic incentives on packaging producers by encouraging an increase
in the amount and quality of unavoidable plastic packaging that is recycled or reused,
so driving up recycling rates and helping to move us towards a circular economy.</p><p>
</p><p>We are also preparing to launch a second consultation on increasing the consistency
of materials collected for recycling from households, businesses and other organisations
in England, which will seek views on the collection and disposal of compostable and
biodegradable materials and the recycling of plastic films.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Plastics
Pact is targeting plastic film as a coordinated effort involving the entire value
chain to fix the system to create a circular economy for single use plastic films.
Last year the Plastics Pact published a roadmap ‘Creating a Circular Economy for Flexible
Plastic Packaging’, which sets out the high-level actions that need to be taken by
each part of the value chain. The new roadmap sets out five key areas where efforts
should be focused in order to develop a circular economy for flexible plastics. These
are: designing packaging that can be recycled and sorted; capitalising on existing
front of store collection points; implementing kerbside collection by all local authorities;
investing in sorting and reprocessing capacity and capabilities; and ensuring strong
and stable end markets for recycled flexible plastic packaging.</p><p> </p><p>The
Environment Bill requires the Government to set at least one long-term, legally binding
target in four priority areas, including Resource Efficiency and Waste Reduction.
This will not be focused on increasing the use of compostable plastics, instead the
target will ensure a holistic approach to all materials. These targets will be set
following a robust, evidence-led process that includes seeking independent expert
advice, a role for stakeholders and the public, and parliamentary scrutiny.</p>
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