A Bill to require the Secretary of State to publish a strategy for promoting a circular economy in respect of plastics, including setting targets and measures for the elimination and recycling of single-use plastics; to require the Secretary of State to establish a taskforce to develop proposals to encourage the use of reuse and refill models of packaging; to require the Secretary of State to report annually to Parliament on the implementation of the strategy; to place a duty on the Secretary of State to ensure that UK targets for the elimination and recycling of plastic packaging are more demanding than equivalent targets set by the European Union; to require manufacturers and retailers to pay for the cost of recycling plastic; to require the Government to set annual targets for reducing the quantity of plastic waste that is incinerated; to require the Secretary of State to publish a plan for banning the export of plastic waste by 2027; to make provision for the purpose of reducing the cost of recycling plastic, including measures to encourage the standardisation of plastic packaging; to give powers to the Office for Environmental Protection to enforce legislation relating to plastic pollution; to make provision for the purpose of encouraging the development of sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging; to require the Government to publish a plan for the use of fiscal policy to incentivise investment in recycling infrastructure and sustainable behaviour by consumers and retailers in relation to plastic; to require the Government to publish a plan for agreeing a global treaty on plastic pollution reduction; and for connected purposes.
House of Commons
2 November 2023
This bill would require the government to publish a strategy to promote a circular economy for plastics, set tough UK targets for eliminating and recycling single-use plastics, and report annually on progress. It also creates a taskforce to promote reuse and refill packaging, requires manufacturers and retailers to pay for recycling costs, aims to reduce plastic waste incineration and ban plastic waste exports by 2027, and seeks to standardise packaging and strengthen enforcement, while supporting sustainable alternatives and international action on plastic pollution.
Current stage: First Reading in the House of Commons. The bill is in the early stages and has not yet progressed to detailed examination or report stages.
Generated 21 February 2026
The 2022-2023 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
