Consultations & Responses

Consultations provide stakeholders with the opportunity to engage, input and shape policy decisions at an early stages of policy-making.

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In 2019 the government published initial proposals on:

  1. Packaging System Reform
  2. Plastics Packaging Tax
  3. Consistent Collections
  4. Deposit Return Schemes

Visit our Packaging Reform web page for further details on how to respond to these consultations.

Consultations provide stakeholders with the opportunity to engage, input and shape policy decisions at an early stages of policy-making. They often present several options (may or may not offer a preferred option) on which feedback is requested.

Open

The consultation is open for response. Stakeholders are able to provide their feedback. Please see the consultation page for more details on how to send your feedback.

Closed

The consultation has closed for feedback and policy or regulatory decisions have been made and implemented.

Awaiting Outcome

The consultation has closed for responses and we are awaiting decisions from the consulting body.

Status:

Additional policies related to Simpler Recycling in England

Status: Consultation to expand list of premises considered as non-household municipal settings and so in scope of new Simpler Recycling requirements which closes on 20 November.

Scope: England

Proposed start date: Tbc

Following on from the policy decisions around Simpler Recycling, formerly ‘Consistent Collections’ in England, government is consulting on some minor additional measures that could see places of worship, care settings, and charity shops brought in scope of the new requirements.  

Youth Vaping: Creating a smoke-free generation

Status: Consultation on measures to reduce youth vaping, and identify any social and environmental harms of vaping, open until 6 December

Scope: UK-wide

Proposed start date: Tbc

Government is consulting on the impact of vaping on younger generations, and possible steps to stop young people from taking up vaping. As part of this consultation, they are also consulting on ways to limit and control waste and littered vapes.

Plastic Packaging Tax: Mass balance approach

Status: Consultation into mass balance approach for evidencing chemically recycled plastic content open until 10 October 2023

Scope: UK-wide

Proposed start date: N/A

Government consulted on whether to allow the use of the mass balance approach to evidence that plastic packaging components meet the 30% recycled plastic content threshold for exemption from the Tax when that content is derived from chemical recycling.

Batteries Extended Producer Responsibility Reform (EPR)

Status: Consultation on initial proposals expected late 2023

Scope: UK-wide

Proposed start date: Post 2025

WEEE Regulations ‘EPR’ Reform

Status: Initial proposals expected late 2023

Scope: UK-wide

Proposed start date: Currently looking at implementation across 2025/26

Scotland Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)

Status: Confirmed in legislation May 2020

Scope: Scotland

Proposed start date: October 2025

20p ‘deposit’ added to drinks cans/bottles upon purchase, redeemable upon consumers returning containers, promoting recycling.

Packaging Waste Regulations ‘EPR’ Reform

Status: Data reporting regulations passed into law February 2023. EPR financial legislation was under consultation until 9 October 2023

Scope: UK-wide

Proposed start date: Reporting from 2023, full financial implementation from 2025

Producers’ to become financially responsible for funding the net costs associated with dealing with packaging waste’.

Plastic Packaging Tax

Status: Active since April 2022

Scope: UK-wide

Proposed start date:

£200 per tonne tax on plastic packaging produced or imported that does not contain at least 30% recycled content. Increasing to £210.82 from 1 April 2023.

Simpler Recycling, formerly Consistent Collections Framework

Status: Consultation response published in October 2023

Scope: England

Proposed start date: Measures phased in from April 2025 onwards

All local authorities are to collect at least the same basic set of recyclable materials from households and businesses, with a minimum requirement for recyclable waste to be collected co-mingled.

Rest of UK Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)

Status: Summary of consultation responses published February 2023

Scope: England, Wales & Northern Ireland

Proposed start date: October 2025

Small ‘deposit’ added to drinks cans/bottles upon purchase, redeemable upon return of container, promoting recycling.

There are no consultation results of this status. Please select another status.