Thank you to all those who have contacted me about plastic waste and the Big Plastic Count.

It is clear we need serious action on plastic pollution and single-use plastics. I support measures aimed at promoting better use of our natural resources and increasing reuse and recycling. I recognise the importance of taking the public with us. Without buy-in from the public, we are unlikely to achieve the change and progress our planet desperately needs.

In my view, the Government is not showing the bold and comprehensive leadership required to tackle the waste crisis facing our country. Each year, consumers across the UK are estimated to use 14 billion plastic bottles, 9 billion aluminium and steel cans, and 1.5 billion glass bottles. The Government needs take serious action on this.

The Government’s statutory target on waste does not include a specific plastic target, aiming instead to halve by 2042 waste by per person sent for residual treatment. I am concerned actual delivery is running behind even this relatively modest target and that the inadequacies of waste collection and recycling systems mean that used compostable packaging also tends to end up in landfill or incineration.

I am further concerned Government plans to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste are years behind schedule.

As you may know, it introduced a ban on single-use plastics for cutlery, balloon sticks, polystyrene cups and food containers in October 2023. However, I supported efforts to amend the Environment Act 2021 to allow charges against all single-use materials to tackle the throwaway economy and culture we have seen.

It has also pledged to introduce more consistent waste and recycling systems across England, with a start date of 2025 for business and non-domestic properties, and from 2026 for the majority of domestic ones.

Additionally, despite committing to ban the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries, the Government has not consulted on this as it stated it would in 2023. I believe we should begin work to prohibit the exportation of waste consisting wholly or mostly of plastic alongside addressing the underlying drivers of the waste problem. British people expect to see these exports banned.

I want to assure you I am committed to increasing recycling rates and improving the related processes.

Thank you once again to all those who have contacted me.