Budget brings about higher packaging targets

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The Chancellor Phllip Hammond has confirmed in the Budget that packaging targets are to rise.

By 2020, 75% of paper packaging will need to be recycled, 64% of aluminium, 85% of steel and 48% of wood packaging.

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Budget 2017 also confirmed Landfill Tax for 2018 at £88.95 per tonne, with the tax also rising on 1 April 2017 to £86.10.

The lower rate of Landfill Tax will be £2.80 per tonne in 2018 from 2017’s £2.70 per tonne.

CIWM has welcomed the proposal to consult on extending the scope of Landfill Tax to illegal disposals of waste made without the required permit or licence as a useful measure in the fight against waste crime. It also hopes that that the ongoing drive to tackle tax avoidance will translate into further support for enforcement activity on landfill tax evasion by the authorities.

Its chief executive Colin Church said: “We are also encouraged that the Government has listened to many of the key stakeholders across the sector and opted for the higher packaging recycling targets for 2018 -2020.

“This sends a clear signal of ambition, which we hope will be reflected across the wider waste and resource policy agenda in Defra’s forthcoming 25-year Environment Plan and the industrial strategy.”

“On skills, CIWM is pleased to see the Government’s commitment to new ‘T’ level qualifications that put technical training on an equal footing with academic qualifications. If the UK economy and infrastructure framework is to become more productive and resilient in the future, circular economy and clean tech skills will be essential.

“Stronger signals on resources will be needed moving forward, however. In this Budget the Chancellor focuses on labour productivity. In the future we will all need to increase our efforts to improve resource productivity to support the UK’s transition to a low carbon, resilient and resource efficient economy.”