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<p>In December 2018, the UK Government published its Resources and Waste Strategy.
This sets out how we will achieve a circular economy for plastic and achieve our ambition
to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042. Our goal is to maximise resource
efficiency and minimise waste (including plastic) - by following the principles of
the waste hierarchy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – to keep plastic in circulation for longer.
We will do this by making producers more responsible for the plastic they make with
our incoming Collection and Packaging Reforms.</p><p> </p><p>Simpler Recycling will
make recycling clearer and more consistent across England. Local authorities will
be required to collect the same materials from households in the following core groups:
metal; glass; plastic: paper and card; food waste; garden waste by March 2026 (with
plastic film collections being introduced by March 2027). This will reduce confusion
with recycling to improve recycling rates, ensuring there is more recycled material
in the products we buy, and the UK recycling industry will grow. As well as Simpler
Recycling, we are introducing Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging and a
Deposit Return Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>To tackle the use of virgin plastics, the Government
brought in the Plastic Packaging Tax in April 2022, a tax of over £200 per tonne on
plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into the UK, that does not contain
at least 30% recycled plastic. We have since increased the tax to £217.85 per tonne
and will continue to monitor the situation and adjust accordingly.</p><p> </p><p>There
is a growing global demand for recycled plastics, including recycled rigid plastics.
For example, IMARC estimates the size of the global plastic recycling market in 2023
to be $42bn and projects it to grow to $62bn by 2032.</p><p> </p><p>With 35% plastic
content, the Government earlier this year consulted on measures to reduce the 155,000
tonnes of small electricals that are thrown in the bin annually. The government response
will be published in due course.</p>
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