The Plastics 2020 Challenge initiative, comprised of the British Plastics Federation, Pafa and PlasticsEurope, has rounded on the Budget for its adherence to the Defra recycling targets, which it called “a blow to the plastics industry in the UK”.
“The targets proposed by Defra ignore advice from industry and from their own expert body, the ACP, which proposed lower targets and they represent a step too far in the time available to address the infrastructure that needs to be put in place,” said Plastics 2020 in a statement.
“This will result in the continuation of a very high proportion of plastic waste being exported and will place high cost burdens on the UK supply chain with very little benefit.”
According to the organisation, this is a missed opportunity to create green jobs in the UK and ensure that the right quantity of quality recyclate is available to be included by UK packaging manufactures.