Southwest Environmental Limited

As the pie chart shows over 1/3 of the plastic waste in the UK come from packaging.

There are 7 types of plastic some of which can and are recycled however, cat 7 plastics which account for a lot of the plastics used are not recyclable.

These accounts for the very low rates for recycling, and therefore high levels of waste going to land fill.

Measures to Reduce Waste and Easing of Industry Packaging Regs

Bio Plastics  

Approach 1 - Bio Plastics: Plastics are made from chemicals derived from oil, bio plastics represent a way to produce plastic that can be disposed of in compost, at point of use, or local facilities.

Pros: Embracing the proximity principal consumers can dispose of waste plastic at home, in their compost heaps / vessels

Cons: However, bio plastics can cause contamination of conventional plastic when recycling.

In urban areas where compost heaps are not the norm the bio plastics will probably be placed with food waste, thus increasing the percentages of putrescible waste.

Approach 2 - Ban on Type 7 Plastics

This should be coupled with a ban of type 7 plastics, which are seldom recycled, and it should be included in the Duty of Care obligations that Local Authorities make provision to recycle type 1 - 6.

Approach 3 - Mandatory Labelling

In order inform of plastic type, accurate and informative recycling information should be mandatory of all packaging, then consumers will be able to make an informed decision.

By informing the consumer of whether there product is packaged in a material that can be recycled is essential.

Many of the more responsible retailers have started to label packaging in some detail “Plan A” (M&S) and similar initiatives have been fully embraced my many retailers.

This label from a ready meal identifies the plastic portion as unrecyclable.

The below section was written by a machine.

Technical Review: Regulation of Plastic Waste

The regulation of plastics represents one of the most significant shifts in environmental policy over the last decade. As the technical complexity of plastic polymers increases, so too does the challenge of managing these materials within a circular economy, requiring a sophisticated understanding of both chemistry and international waste legislation.

The Situation: 20 Years On

Twenty years ago, the regulation of plastics was primarily focused on encouraging household recycling through localized collection schemes. Plastics were largely viewed as a single, homogenous waste stream. Today, the situation has become far more complex. We have moved toward a highly regulated landscape where individual polymer types are tracked, and manufacturers are held responsible for the entire life cycle of their products. The primary hurdle has shifted from simple collection to the implementation of the Plastic Packaging Tax and the banning of specific single-use items. We are now seeing the emergence of chemical recycling technologies and compostable polymer standards that were not part of the technical discourse two decades ago.

Summary of Technical Changes

The transition in how we regulate and engineer plastic waste has been driven by several fundamental changes:

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): A shift in the regulatory burden from local authorities to the producers of plastic packaging.
• Plastic Packaging Tax: The introduction of fiscal measures for packaging containing less than 30% recycled content, driving demand for high-quality recyclate.
• Technical Standards for Bioplastics: The development of rigorous certification for industrially compostable and biodegradable materials to prevent contamination of traditional recycling streams.
• Global Trade Restrictions: Increased regulation under the Basel Convention, making it significantly more difficult to export low-grade plastic waste to developing nations.

At Southwest Environmental Limited (SWEL), we provide the technical authority required to navigate these complex regulations. From helping clients understand their obligations under the Plastic Packaging Tax to developing comprehensive waste management strategies, our 15-year track record and professional accreditation ensure your project meets the highest environmental standards.

And given what a lot of twaddle the above is. . . . back to a Plain Speaking Human

Despite the above well meant AI slop we now live in a world where it is known that we are all walking around with micro plastics lodged in our brains, lungs, livers, not to mention our intensities. Babies are born with micro plastics in their blood.

So one thing is for very very sure, and that is the current regulatory system in not working. It is too lenient and those who profit from it now, will not be around when our children and grandchildren start to fall ill from the plastic related diseases.