The Welsh Government have launched as consultation on Reducing single use plastic in Wales. The consultation is proposing the banning of seven single use plastic items including; plastic straws, cotton buds and plastic stirrers, similar to the ban in England which came into effect on 1st October 2020.
Environmental Policy
House of Commons Public Bill Committee: Environment Bill
Welsh Government: Beyond Recycling
Welsh Government: draft Clean Air Plan for Wales
Scottish Government: Circular Economy: Proposals for Legislation
Welsh Government: Increasing recycling by businesses
The legislation will:
- Require the occupiers of non-domestic premises to present certain recyclable materials for collection separately
- Ban certain separately collected recyclable materials from incineration and landfill
- Ban the disposal of food waste to sewer from business premises
- Make civil sanctions available for associated criminal offences.
House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Environment Bill Inquiry
The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee has opened an inquiry the Environment Bill to help "ensure that we maintain and improve our environmental protections as we leave the EU". They are seeking written submission on multiple questions, including: “Does the Environment Bill meet the Government's commitment to non-regression from EU environmental standards? Does the Environment Bill meet the Government's commitment to non-regression from EU environmental standards?”
Scottish Government: The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020
The Scottish Government has opened a consultation to allow industry experts, interested stakeholders and MSPs the opportunity to comment on the details of the regulations and allow us to refine the legal approach further– this follows on from a consultation in 2018 on the overarching principles.
Scottish Parliament Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee: Deposit Return Scheme
The Scottish Parliament Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee issued a call for written evidence to inform their scrutiny of the draft Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations which provide detail about what the deposit return scheme in Scotland will look like.
DEFRA: Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
DEFRA want to know what you think about proposals to introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This would include drinks containers such as:
- glass bottles
- plastic bottles
- cans
The cost of the deposit would be added to the price of the drinks included in the scheme when they are purchased. This deposit would be redeemed when consumers return their empty drinks containers to a designated return point.