With a New Year comes a whole host of changes, from personal commitments to British laws. UK businesses should prepare for a wave of developments, including the increased National Living Wage and the National Security and Investment Act.
As ever, the focus continues to remain firmly on sustainability.
It’s no surprise, then, that new business waste management legislation is coming to the UK in 2022.
Whatever kind of business you run, from a standard office to a hospitality venue, you should start to make changes now to remain compliant.
Keep your eyes open for the latest business waste legislation that could affect your company in 2022.
The Deposit Return Scheme
The Deposit Return Scheme aims to recycle more drinks packaging by charging consumers a small fee. The scheme has initially been rolled out throughout Scotland, but experts believe that England, Northern Ireland and Wales will follow suit in 2024.
While the scheme will encourage consumers to recycle, it also requires businesses to get involved. It works by charging consumers a 20 pence deposit when they buy drinks containers made from:
- Glass
- Aluminium
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic.
Any containers ranging from 50ml to 3l in size will be subject to a 20p charge from the ‘producer’, such as a restaurant. Customers can then return the packaging once they are finished, after which the producer returns the deposit. This helps to encourage the circular economy, and businesses will receive a handling fee to cover their collection. They will need to have a facility in place to collect the waste.
You can expect the final phase of this project to roll out in Scotland in July 2022, followed by the rest of the UK in 2024 if not sooner.
Plastic Packaging Tax
From April 2022, all UK businesses handling plastic will be subject to a new Plastic Packaging Tax.
The term ‘handling’ refers to all practices, including manufacturing, importing or consuming.
Businesses will have to pay a set fee for all plastic they handle that does not contain at least 30% recycled materials.
This set fee is measured in the same way as a landfill tax – by weight. Business owners will be charged at a rate of £200 per metric tonne of <30% recycled plastic that they use.
The Environment Act
Business owners should also keep an eye out for new changes made through the Environment Act.
The act has been passed to “clean up the country’s air, restore natural habitats, increase biodiversity, reduce waste and make better use of our resources”.
In addition to the Deposit Return Scheme, the Act will make producers pay for 100% of the cost of the disposal of products, starting with plastic packaging.
It will also regulate the shipment of hazardous waste, and create more transparency about resource efficiency. For example, products will be labelled to show a product’s recyclability and durability.
The Act will leverage new technologies such as electronic waste tracking, to reduce waste crime and the overall impact on the environment.
It officially achieved Royal Assent in November 2021, so UK businesses should start to see changes rolling out throughout the year.
How can I stay compliant with new UK waste management legislation in 2022?
The new business waste legislation is not only another administrative concern for UK businesses, but a potential cost.
With a free waste management audit from Hubba, you can stay up to date with the latest laws and keep your costs down.
If you’re ready to embrace the circular economy in 2022, contact Hubba for your free waste audit today.