| answer text |
<p>The Resources and Waste Strategy set out our ambition to eliminate all avoidable
plastic waste, including from fast food outlets. We will do this by making producers
more responsible for the products they put on the market, starting with reforming
the packaging waste regulations. We recently consulted on proposals to reform the
packaging producer responsibility system to ensure that packaging producers fund the
full net cost of managing the packaging they place on the market once it becomes waste.
This will provide a strong financial incentive for packaging producers to make more
sustainable decisions at the design stage and during manufacture, and to take greater
responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products.</p><p> </p><p>In general,
we prefer to help people and companies make the right choice, rather than banning
items outright. There may, however, be times when a ban is appropriate as part of
a wider strategic approach. Which is why we are introducing measures to restrict the
supply of plastic drink stirrers, plastic-stemmed cotton buds and plastic straws,
which are commonly provided in fast food outlets, in April 2020. We will continue
to review the latest evidence on problematic single-use plastic products to take a
systematic approach to reducing their use.</p><p> </p><p>In April last year, the Waste
and Resources Action Programme and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched their world-leading
UK Plastics Pact, with support from the Government, and some major fast food corporations
such as McDonalds have signed up to it. The Pact brings these organisations together
with four key targets for 2025 that aim to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated,
including action to eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use plastic packaging
items. Our proposed reforms will support the Pact in achieving those targets.</p>
|
|
