Environmental Policy

PAC: Inquiry into the Government’s resources and waste reforms for England

Based on an investigation by the National Audit Office into progress of the strategy, the Committee will question senior DEFRA officials on:

  • Whether the Government has effective plans to achieve its resources and waste ambitions
  • Whether DEFRA is on track to successfully implement its main programme, on collection and packaging reforms
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Welsh Government: Reducing emissions from domestic burning of solid fuels

The consultation seeks views on the Welsh Government’s proposals on regulating domestic burning as part of the Clean Air Plan for Wales: Healthy Air, Healthy Wales. Proposed actions in the consultation will reduce air pollution and support improvements in public health and our natural environment. The consultation prohibits the sale of wet wood and traditional/bituminous house coal, subject to consultation and aims to introduce the necessary legislation in 2021, with bans commencing during 2023.

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Defra: Packaging and packaging waste: introducing Extended Producer Responsibility

Defra launched a consultation seeking views on plans to introduce an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for packaging.

This will mean that packaging producers will pay the full cost of managing packaging once it becomes waste. This will encourage producers to use less packaging and use more recyclable materials, reducing the amount of hard to recycle packaging placed on the market.

The consultation looks at a number of keys areas, including:

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DEFRA: Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

DEFRA has launched a consulation on proposals to introduce a deposit return scheme for drinks containers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The consulation seeks views on:

  • how a deposit return scheme will operate
  • scheme scope and design
  • implementation timelines
  • scheme enforcement

The consultation opens on 24th March 2021. The consultation closes on 4 June 2021.

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