How the 30% Plastic Packaging Tax Could Impact Your Business

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in the latest Budget that the tax on plastic packaging containing less than 30% recycled content will come into force in April 2022, and will be set at £200 a tonne. 

“From April 2022, we will charge manufacturers and importers £200 per tonne on packaging made of less than 30% recycled plastic.” “That will increase the use of recycled plastic in packaging by 40% – equal to carbon savings of nearly 200,000 tonnes.” – Read More

The announcement is a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to prioritising recycling and the greater UK ambition of a circular economy.

The new tax will also signal a clear economic incentive for businesses to use recycled material in the production of plastic packaging. This will create a greater demand for recycled plastic and in turn, stimulate increased levels of recycling and collection of plastic waste. This will ensure more plastic is diverted from landfill or incineration.

A host of leading businesses across the UK have already pledged to have an average of 30% or higher in their plastic packaging by 2025 through the UK Plastics Pact. By setting the threshold for tax at 30% the Government is clearly encouraging all businesses to meet this target as soon as possible. The Government expects the supply of recycled material to increase in the future, both as a consequence of technological advancements and improvements to collection infrastructure. In the future higher thresholds for recyclable content would become more achievable and we may see the tax laws reviewed to accommodate for this. 

So what does all this mean for businesses?

The overall message here is that the UK is Government is taking drastic action to increase the use of recycled plastic. This will subsequently lead to a greater demand for recycled material which means there has never been a better time to invest in a Plastic Baler. Landfill Alternatives sell and lease a comprehensive range of Plastic Balers. No matter what volume of plastic you are looking to recycle we have a suitable Baler for you. 

In addition to plastic, our Balers allow you to compact multiple streams of dry waste such as paper, cardboard and more. The material can be loaded into the chamber by hand, forklift or via a conveyor belt system, and the compaction plate compacts and compresses the recyclables. This process is repeated until a full bale is created and then subsequently tied and ejected. Bales are easily stackable and transported, therefore they’re easy to collect and transport to recycling centers. 

Benefits of Balers

• Bales are easily transported and stackable
• Enables your business to reduce disposal costs and at certain volumes generate revenue
• Balers are easy to use and operate
• Reduces disposal costs by diverting material away from skips and bins
• Improves workplace efficiency and keeps the site tidy
• Frees up space in skips and bins

One of many customers who have benefited greatly from investing in a Recycling Baler is the printing company, R R Donnelley. Read the full case study here. 

“The baler has been outstanding and the solution really works! The staff took to the system easier than we imagined and it has improved operations. The waste disposal costs for the left over rubbish is 20% of the previous year’s cost and the income for cardboard, paper and plastic covers these waste costs. It has certainly been a project we are glad to have introduced.”

In addition to the Government’s pledge to increase recycling, consumer trends are also changing to favour companies that are more environmentally friendly. A recent Nielsen survey indicated a whopping 81% of global respondents feel strongly that companies should help improve the environment. Therefore, it has never been more important for businesses to manage their waste effectively. This is where Landfill Alternatives can help. We have over 20 years of waste management experience and offer free, no-obligation onsite audits. We also supply a comprehensive range of Balers, Compactors, Crushers and Specialist Equipment available to sell or hire. We’ve helped hundreds of businesses save money on waste disposal and even achieve nil to landfill. So get in touch today and discover what we can do for you.