Budget sets out plastic and glass recycling targets

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New packaging targets for plastic and glass have been confirmed by Chancellor George Osborne (pictured) in this year’s Budget.

In the Budget documents, the Government revealed that the existing packaging target for plastic will be reduced to 49% in 2016 and then increased each year to 2020 to 57%.

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For glass, the existing target of 77% will be maintained until 2017 and then increased by 1% each year to 2020 to reach 80%.

This will be legislated on later this year, and the aim is to reduce the burden on business.

In the Budget documents, the Government also said that Landfill Tax rates will increase by RPI, rounded to the nearest 5 pence, from 1 April 2017 and again from 1 April 2018.

HMRC will also consult later this year on the definition of a taxable landfill disposal, with the aim of changing the definition in Finance Bill 2017. This change aims to bring clarity to the tax without affecting its intended scope.

Additional funding will also be made available over the next five years to HMRC to increase compliance activity across the waste supply chain, enabling the Government to better tackle waste crime.

CIWM deputy chief executive Chris Murphy said: “Although there is little of any substance in the Budget 2016 to gladden hearts in the UK waste and resource sector, the additional funding over the next five years for HMRC to tackle tax evasion and non-compliance across the waste supply chain is welcome, and confirmation of the Landfill Tax rate regime through to March 2019 provides some medium term certainty. 

“The expected changes to plastic and glass packaging targets appear pragmatic and likely to ensure that the UK performance is more closely aligned with the new EU circular economy.

“In terms of providing a coherent framework to support green economic growth, however, the Chancellor has once again turned our sector away empty handed.”

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