I recently wrote an article for the Materials Recycling World magazine about my Plastics Bill, which you can read below.

5 NOVEMBER, 2018 BY GERAINT DAVIES

The devastation to marine life caused by plastic has enraged the British public and made them advocates for much-needed change. Scenes of damaged habitats shocked the nation during the Blue Planet series, and the media are now capitalising on public feelings with further features about the problems with plastics.

So it is a great opportunity for the waste and recycling industry to support MPs in their work to find appropriate solutions – and for us in Westminster to listen and make the necessary changes, which I hope to have carved out in my Private Member’s Bill on plastics.

In the Bill, I am calling on environment secretary Michael Gove to demonstrate this leadership by creating a fair and transparent packaging recovery note (PRN) system which ensures that the producer pays, uses a fiscal strategy that decreases the production of plastics and funds research into alternatives.

This is due for its second reading on 26 October but, despite warm words from the Government, it has made little progress in this area.

Instead, the Government has proposed various consultations – and even a partnership with UK Scouts – to help clean up single-use plastics from our oceans. But if it is truly committed to leaving the environment in a better state for future generations, then it must act now…

To read the full article, click here.