Environmental Policy

The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has published a call for evidence on the next steps for deposit returns schemes.

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 1^st October 2020.

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.

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?”

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.

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.