Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, released a major new government strategy under which businesses and manufacturers will pay the full cost of recycling or disposing of their packaging waste.
According to Defra this will put a ‘legal onus on those responsible for producing damaging waste to take greater responsibility and foot the bill.’
The initiative aims to eliminate avoidable plastic waste and help leave the environment in a better state.
A deposit return scheme will be introduced to increase recycling of single-use drinks containers including bottles, cans and disposable cups filled at the point of sale.
In addition, the Government announced £8 million of funding for eight new research projects that will explore new and different ways of making, using and recycling plastics.
A further £20 million will be invested to tackle plastics and boost recycling: £10 million more for plastic research and development and £10 million to pioneer innovative approaches to boosting recycling and reducing litter, such as smart bins.