April 2019
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
The seminar focused on issues for implementing the Government’s recently published Resource and Waste Strategy, which set out proposals to expand the circular economy in England, including improving sustainable production methods - and implementing further extended producer responsibility controls such as taxing plastic products containing less than 30% recycled plastic.
It took place following the launch of multiple consultations aimed at meeting key pledges from the strategy - including the Plastic Packaging Tax; the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS); reforming the UK packaging producer responsibility system; and improvements to Consistency in Household and Business Recycling Collections in England.
Attendees assessed the latest strategies for driving changes in consumer behaviour and the role of industry in aiding households to make more informed decisions on utilising repair, reuse and remanufacture schemes. Delegates also evaluated the impact and implications of a range of policy initiatives on reducing plastic waste, including opportunities for developing single-use alternatives and other measures to counter issues such as potentially shortened expiry dates.
Sessions looked at both policy and industry initiatives for reducing food and drink waste, including the launch of the first phase of the Government’s £15m food redistribution pilot scheme - which aimed to provide financial support to food redistribution companies - the announcement of a new Food Surplus and Waste Champion, weekly food waste collections, and commitments to meeting UN Sustainable Development Goals to half food waste by 2030.
Attendees also considered the lessons to be learnt from on-going policy development in Scotland and Wales, including the development of a Scottish deposit return scheme and Welsh policy on food waste being diverted from landfill to generate electricity.
Further sessions examined the impact on businesses and local authorities including potential increased costs, duplicated waste collections and the role of incentives for consumers; and discussed the possible ways that the DRS might be developed to take account of plastics that are more difficult to recycle, or used ‘on-the-go’.
