The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced that from April 2022, the UK will introduce the world's highest plastic packaging levy of £200 ($275.32) per tonne on plastic packaging that does not meet a minimum threshold of 30% recycled content. The UK is also considering a full list of single-use items and will publish further details of the consultation in the coming weeks.
The UK government estimates that each person uses 18 plastic plates and 37 disposable plastic cutlery items each year. (Photo: Internet)
Previously, since October 5, 2015, the UK has applied a policy of charging 5 pence (about 1,600 VND) for each plastic bag. This move by the Government aims to change people's habit of using nylon bags, an action that has a negative impact on the living environment such as being difficult to decompose and releasing many toxic substances.
The UK Environment Agency said that the number of plastic bags in the UK increased rapidly in the past 5 years (from 2010 to 2015), with 7.6 billion units used each year, equivalent to 61 thousand tons. Thus, it is estimated that each British person uses up to 140 plastic bags within a year.
Under new rules, shopkeepers in supermarkets and large stores in the UK must provide products to customers in environmentally friendly packaging produced by the store, while environmental activists say the requirement should be applied to retail stores.
The amount of single-use plastic bags consumed in major supermarket chains in the UK has decreased by more than 95% compared to 5 years ago, when the tax policy was issued. (Photo: Internet)
However, efforts to reduce plastic waste in the UK have stalled since the Covid-19 outbreak. The amount of plastic waste has skyrocketed due to the continued use of masks, gloves, face shields and disposable wipes. At the same time, the rate of plastic recycling has also dropped sharply due to the lockdown.
