Should Packaging Waste Be Taxed?

The British Plastics Federation (BPF) has announced it will be opposing suggestions to tax packaging, with BPF director Barry Turner speaking out against the proposed tax at a policy conference.

The conference, organised by Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum, saw BPF state that the proposed tax “does not recognise the supply constraints and the regulation constraints that can prohibit the inclusion of recycled content in some cases”.

BPF’s statements come after news that the government is considering a tax on single-use packaging.

Turner commented, “I think [a tax is] likely to result in more waste, more climate change impact, and a movement of jobs overseas.”

However, Peter Andrews, head of sustainability policy at the British Retail Consortium (BRC) commented, “We… believe the objectives of the tax can be reached through reforming EPR – money raised by the system should be for the system.

“You can’t force a blanket approach to producing recycled content, you have to look at the existing regulations and make sure it’s fit for purpose.”