Legislation

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announcing the Budget in the House of Commons
Budget 2020: Plastics tax set at £200 per tonne

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed today (11 March) that a new Plastic Packaging Tax will be introduced from April 2022 to encourage producers to increase their use of recycled material.


Originally announced in the 2018 Autumn Statement, a tax of £200 per tonne will be applied to all domestically-manufactured or imported packaging containing less than 30 per cent recycled content... More

Environment Secretary George Eustice
Environment Bill passes second reading despite MPs' concerns

The government’s Environment Bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons yesterday (26 February). 

‘Far-reaching’ Environment Bill reintroduced to Parliament
‘Far-reaching’ Environment Bill reintroduced to Parliament

The government has reintroduced the Environment Bill to Parliament today (30 January), including new commitments to ban the export of plastic waste to developing countries and to review international developments in environmental legislation every two years.

A wet wipe.
Loopholes in legislation could undermine EU Single-Use Plastic Directive, says report
By
Rob Cole
| 23 January 2020 |
Loopholes in the EU’s Single Use Plastic (SUP) Directive providing possible exemptions for natural polymers could undermine the legislation’s aim to reduce the environmental impact of single-use products, according to a new report from Eunomia Research and Consulting.
Soil quality at heart of Agriculture Bill
Soil quality at heart of Agriculture Bill
By
Rob Cole
| 17 January 2020 |
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has reintroduced the Agriculture Bill to Parliament, with soil quality at the heart of a new land management system that rewards farmers for environmental protection.
EA to reduce packaging recovery operator site inspections
EA to reduce packaging recovery operator site inspections
By
Rob Cole
| 14 January 2020 |
The Environment Agency’s packaging producer responsibility monitoring plan 2020 has dropped its planned number of site inspections of accredited operators to 110 from 160 in 2019.
House of Commons Library releases plastic waste briefing paper
House of Commons Library releases plastic waste briefing paper
By
Rob Cole
| 10 January 2020 |
The government has released a wide-ranging briefing paper on plastic waste ahead of the return of the Environment Bill, expected at the end of the month.
Indian Government to tighten restrictions on the import of mixed papers
Indian Government to tighten restrictions on the import of mixed papers
By
Rob Cole
| 27 December 2019 |
The Indian Government is set to implement a one per cent contamination limit on imports of mixed paper in a crackdown on the import of contaminated and illegal waste.
Paul Vanston, CEO of INCPEN
Is ‘partially good’ good enough?
By
Paul Vanston
| 17 December 2019 |
Paul Vanston, CEO of the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN), calls on the resources and waste industry to be bold in its actions to combat climate change and advance the circular economy in 2020.
The Houses of Parliament.
Government must ‘make up for lost time’ on resources and waste after election
By
Rob Cole
| 13 December 2019 |
The resources and waste sector has responded to the Conservatives’ landslide election victory with a call to revive the legislative programme set in motion by the Resources and Waste Strategy and the Environment Bill.
European Green Deal to include new circular economy plan
European Green Deal to include new circular economy plan
By
Rob Cole
| 11 December 2019 |
The European Commission’s European Green Deal includes proposals to introduce an EU-wide model for the separate collection of waste and rules on minimum recycled content, promising a step change in the EU’s approach to resources and waste.
Green Party manifesto 2019
Green Party makes resources pledges to tackle climate emergency
By
Tansy Dando
| 20 November 2019 |
The Green Party has included a number of policies related to waste and resources in its election manifesto, such as extending repair services and promoting the sharing economy.
A kerbside recycling box.
Scottish Government reveals proposals for Circular Economy Bill
By
Tansy Dando
| 12 November 2019 |
The Scottish Government has revealed measures for its upcoming Circular Economy Bill and will now invite responses to a consultation to gather public feedback on the proposals.
Andy Garside, Group Technical Waste Manager at Adler and Allan
Navigating waste regulations for businesses
By
Andy Garside
| 6 November 2019 |
Are you disposing of your business’ waste compliantly? Andy Garside, Group Technical Waste Manager at environmental risk reduction company Adler and Allan, discusses the impact that non-compliant waste management can have on businesses.
A screengrab of Theresa Villiers in Parliament
Villiers hopes Environment Bill will survive election
By
Imogen Benson
| 30 October 2019 |
Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers expressed her desire to see the Environment Bill continue its passage through Parliament despite the forthcoming general election.
An image of single-use plastic straws
Government publishes draft legislation on plastic straw, stirrer and cotton bud ban
By
Imogen Benson
| 29 October 2019 |
The government’s ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds is due to come into force in April 2020. 
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Defra holding ‘Brexit ready’ events for waste businesses
By
Imogen Benson
| 15 October 2019 |
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is holding a series of workshops to help import and export waste business prepare for Brexit.
Anna McMorrin, Labour MP for Cardiff North
The system must change: An interview with Anna McMorrin
By Resource |
16 September 2019 |
MP since 2017, Anna McMorrin joined Parliament with a drive to tackle the UK’s environmental issues, hitting out against single-use plastic waste and tabling a bill on extended producer responsibility for packaging. Resource finds out more 
Scottish Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham at Edinburgh Zoo.
Legislation indicates 2021 start date for Scottish DRS
By
Rob Cole
| 11 September 2019 |
The Scottish Government has submitted legislation for the introduction of its deposit return scheme (DRS) for beverage containers, with the scheme currently slated for a 1 April 2021 commencement date.
Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers
UK may not keep EU environment laws post-Brexit, MPs told
By
Rob Cole
| 10 September 2019 |
The government cannot rule out diverging from EU environmental laws transposed into UK law post-Brexit, new Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers told MPs.
Rick Hindley, Executive Director of Alupro
DRS: A whole can of worms
By
Rick Hindley
| 26 July 2019 |
Rick Hindley, Executive Director of Alupro, the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation, gets his teeth into the issues surrounding deposit return schemes and their impact on aluminium can recycling.
Defra sign
Government responds to resources and waste consultations
By
Kate Dickinson
Rob Cole
| 24 July 2019 |
Defra’s response to the resources and waste consultations confirm that big changes will be on the cards for 2023, with a deposit return scheme, extended producer responsibility regime and consistency of collections all proposed for introduction by then.
A Biffa employee collects bins.
ESA criticises Labour plan to push councils towards in-house waste services
By
Rob Cole
| 23 July 2019 |
The Labour Party is ‘putting ideology ahead of evidence’ with its proposal to push councils into bringing services such as waste and recycling back in-house, according to the Environmental Services Association.