Establishment or revision of legal measures, including bans or restriction on specific categories of plastic packaging and/or products considered problematic or unnecessary: Restrictions on the supply to end-users of single-use plastic straws, cotton buds, and drink stirrers were introduced from 1 October 2020. Restrictions on the supply of drinks products with single-use plastic straws attached to the packaging were introduced from 3 July 2021. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/971/contents/made

The Welsh Government have consulted on bans for commonly littered single use plastic items.

Establishment or revision of economic incentives (e.g. subsidies, funding schemes to encourage innovation and research into alternative materials or designs) or disincentives (e.g. tax, charges): Our 5 pence single-use carrier bag charge was increased to 10 pence and extended to all retailers from 21 May 2021. By extending the charge to all retailers, it is anticipated that the use of single-use carrier bags will decrease by 70-80% in small and medium-sized businesses. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/10p-plastic-bag-charge-introduced-in-england.

Establishment or revision of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes: On 24 March 2021, we launched a second consultation, jointly with the Welsh and Scottish Governments and Northern Ireland Executive, regarding our specific proposals to reform the current packaging producer responsibility scheme and introduce Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging.

The Welsh Government is also working with the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive on a Deposit Return Scheme (a form of EPR) for drinks containers also planned to go live in 2023/24.

Changes to public procurement to support products without problematic or unnecessary plastic: A Plan to Reduce Unnecessary Single Use Plastics within the Government Estate is currently being implemented across the Northern Ireland Civil Service and Public Bodies have also been invited to establish the scheme. So far, we have engaged with all suppliers who have removed unnecessary SUP items and replaced with more environmentally sustainable alternatives, where possible. An outright ban will come into force in October 2021.

Delivery of awareness raising and education campaigns: The UK Government, through its grant agreement with WRAP, supports the delivery of Recycle Now, the national recycling campaign for England. The UK Government also supports the UK Plastics Pact, also managed by WRAP, which delivers communications campaigns on plastics and recycling of plastics.

Northern Ireland Executive:

1. The Tackling Plastics NI project is into its 4th year and it seeks to help schools, councils, businesses and the general public to reduce their use of SUP items.

Provision of reliable packaging and/or product information to consumers: In the above mentioned consultation on Extended Producer responsibility proposals for packaging, we set out proposals for the mandatory labelling of packaging by producers to indicate whether it can be recycled or not. The consultation proposes that mandatory recyclability labelling should be introduced on packaging as soon as is feasible and by end of 2026/27 at the latest.

Encouragement of voluntary actions: The UK Government supports the UK Plastics Pact. The Pact brings together organisations from across the plastics supply chain, with four key targets for 2025 that aim to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated.

DAERA (Northern Ireland) has provided support to various local charities and groups to further their aims in reducing plastics and plastic pollution. One such example is funding to a local group who collect difficult to recycle materials for Terracycle.

Promotion of innovation in packaging or product design to drive elimination of problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging and/or products: The UK Government has established the smart sustainable plastic packaging (SSPP) challenge fund comprising £60m of government funding matched by £149m from industry.

DAERA’s College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise have been working to conduct LCAs of plastic packaging and developing prototypes for alternative types of packaging. In addition to this, work is ongoing with a local company who compost food waste to increase awareness around compostable packaging and its correct disposal.

Other actions taken: Work is ongoing to develop a plan to eliminate plastic pollution in Northern Ireland, as committed to in the New Decade, New Approach document (published Jan 2020). A call for evidence was launched on 28th June which seeks information from across all sectors to help inform the plan. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/call-evidence-plan-eliminate-plastic-pollution-northern-ireland

Single-use plastic bags,Single-use plastic q-tips,Single-use plastic straws

Establishment or revision of legal measures, including bans or restriction on specific categories of plastic packaging and/or products considered problematic or unnecessary: The Welsh Government intend to ban or restrict the following items

• plastic stemmed cotton buds;

• plates (including trays, platters, bowls and laminated paper plates);

• cutlery (including forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks and sporks);

• drinks stirrers;

• straws;

• balloon sticks;

• beverage cups and food containers made of expanded polystyrene; and

• all products made of oxo-degradable plastics

In Northern Ireland, 9 commonly littered single-use plastic items are to be banned in 2022

Establishment or revision of economic incentives (e.g. subsidies, funding schemes to encourage innovation and research into alternative materials or designs) or disincentives (e.g. tax, charges): The Welsh Government are exploring potential options to introduce charges on certain single-use plastic items, for example food containers and single-use disposable cups.

In Northern Ireland, there will be the Carrier Bag Levy Refresh in 2022.

Provide more details about the selected actions - Establishment or revision of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes: On 24 March 2021, we launched a second consultation, jointly with the Welsh and Scottish Governments and Northern Ireland Executive, regarding our specific proposals to reform the current packaging producer responsibility scheme and introduce Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging. At the core of our proposals is for producers to take greater responsibility for the packaging they place on the market.

Changes to public procurement to support products without problematic or unnecessary plastic: In Northern Ireland, work is ongoing with Constructions and Procurement Delivery (CPD) to see where changes can be implemented.

Provide more details about the selected actions - Delivery of awareness raising and education campaigns: Through its support for the UK Plastics Pact, the UK Government will continue to support communications initiatives delivered by the Pact relating to plastics and plastic waste.

This is ongoing in Northern Ireland. It is a priority area for DAERA in light of the Northern Ireland Executive’s commitment to develop a plan to eliminate plastic pollution.

Provision of reliable packaging and/or product information to consumers: Our proposals for extended producer responsibility for packaging, include requiring producers to label their packaging as to whether it is recyclable or not.

Encouragement of voluntary actions: The UK Government supports the UK Plastics Pact. The Pact brings together organisations from across the plastics supply chain, with four key targets for 2025:

1. Eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use packaging through redesign, innovation or alternative (reuse) delivery model.

2. 100% of plastics packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable.

3. 70% of plastics packaging effectively recycled or composted.

4. 30% average recycled content across all plastic packaging

Promotion of innovation in packaging or product design to drive elimination of problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging and/or products: The Government has put together a package of over £100 million for research and innovation to tackle the issues that arise from plastic waste. £38 million was set aside through the Plastics Research and Innovation Fund, the last funding competition of which opened in June 2020.

DAERA will continue to encourage and support this area, particularly as Northern Ireland transitions to a low carbon circular economy.

Promotion of innovation in business models and/or other alternative solutions to drive elimination of problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging and/or products: DAERA will continue to encourage and support this area, particularly as Northern Ireland transitions to a low carbon circular economy.

Other planned actions: The Welsh Government published Beyond Recycling: a strategy for making the circular economy a reality in March 2021, which is focused on keeping resources in use for as long as possible and avoiding waste. The Strategy has eight headline actions. The circular economy forms a number of the initiatives in the recently published Programme for Government. https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2021-03/beyond-recycling-strategy-document.pdf

Piloting or scaling up of reuse solutions/systems: Established the Northern Ireland Resource Network. The network brings together those working in the reuse and repair sector to help provide support and guidance as well as training. The network also helps to stimulate discussion around reuse and repair, highlighting the environmental, financial and societal benefits.

Establishment or revision of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes: As part of our aforementioned consultation, we invited feedback on definitions for reusable and refillable packaging, and views on potential measures to increase the use of reusable and refillable packaging.

The feedback to the consultation and the review of the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2015.

will inform decisions on future policy measures to incentives more reusable and refillable packaging.

Delivery of awareness raising and education campaigns: In Northern Ireland, the Tackling Plastics NI project is into its 4th year and it seeks to help schools, councils, businesses and the general public to reduce their use of SUP items. This includes directing people to sign the “plastic promise” and encouraging the 5 Rs, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Responsible Disposal.

Encouragement of voluntary actions: The UK Government supports the UK Plastics Pact; this includes the work they are doing with their members on reusable and refillable packaging.

In Northern Ireland, the ‘plastic promise’, which forms part of the Tackling Plastics NI project mentioned above encourages people to take voluntary action against single-use plastics, promoting reuse and refill, reusable cups, etc. The project has also developed toolkits for each of the sectors to guide them on how to take actions.

Other actions taken: • The Welsh Government has committed over £200,000 over three years towards a Refill scheme.

• In May 2018, the Minister for Environment agreed to roll out the Refill movement as the main means of providing free drinking water access to the public.

• The Refill campaign is run by an organisation called City to Sea,

• Refill is a campaign about nudging people to use accessible Refill points rather than purchasing a single use plastic beverage.

There are currently 1947 active Refill points.

Piloting or scaling up of reuse solutions/systems: In Northern Ireland, the Reuse Network is to be scaled up. Refillution (NI Water scheme to provide water refill locations) to be scaled up following the covid-19 pandemic.

Establishment or revision of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes: None yet. The Government has indicated its intention to bring forward proposals for reuse in 2023, with the introduction of obligations/targets from 2025.

Establishment or revision of economic incentives (e.g. subsidies) or disincentives (e.g. taxes, charges): In Northern Ireland, the Carrier Bag Levy will be refreshed. This encourages bag reuse.

Changes to public procurement to support reuse solutions/systems: In Northern Ireland, reuse is being built into some contracts as and when they are renewed. It is also being incorporated into specifications where relevant. The Plastic Reduction Action Plan which aims to remove all unnecessary single-use plastics from the government estate has removed single-use plastics already and encourages reusables where appropriate.

Encouragement of voluntary actions: In Northern Ireland, this is ongoing through various delivery partners and schemes.

Development or revision of regulations, standards or guidelines (e.g. standards for on-pack recyclability claims): On 8 April 2021, we published our response to the call for evidence on the need for standards for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics. Though we recognise there is a valid role for biodegradable and compostable plastics to play in some niche applications, our core focus is on increasing reuse and recycling of plastics, in line with our ambition to transition to a circular economy.

Establishment or revision of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes: As part of the aforementioned consultation, we

• consulted on packaging recycling targets to 2030

• invited views on definitions for reusable/refillable packaging and potential measures to incentive use of reusable/refillable packaging

• set out our requirements for the mandatory labelling of packaging to indicate if it can be recycled or not.

The consultation closed on 4 June 2021 and the responses are being analysed. A government response will be published in due course.

Delivery of awareness raising and education campaigns: As above.

Encouragement of voluntary actions: The UK Government supports the UK Plastics Pact. The Pact brings together organisations from across the plastics supply chain, with four key targets for 2025 that aim to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated. Current Pact business members are responsible for 80% of plastic packaging sold through UK supermarkets.

Promotion of collaboration with the private sector, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and civil society organisations: As above, the UK Government supports the UK Plastics Pact.

Support for research and development of innovative solutions: In Northern Ireland, work is ongoing with Queens University Belfast Polymer Research Unit to conduct LCAs of alternative materials and to explore new sustainable materials which could replace plastics.

Development or revision of regulations, standards or guidelines (e.g. standards for on-pack recyclability claims): Our recent consultation on extended producer responsibility for packaging proposes that mandatory recyclability labelling should be introduced as soon as is feasible (NB. End of 2026-27 financial year is the proposed date by which we hope to have implemented fully binary labelling).

Establishment or revision economic incentives (e.g. subsidies) or disincentives (e.g. taxes, charges): In Northern Ireland, the Carrier Bag Levy will be refreshed.

Establishment or revision of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes: In the consultation, we proposed a phased approach for implementing extended producer responsibility for packaging commencing in 2023, and invited feedback on the feasibility, practicality and desirability of this timeline.

Encouragement of voluntary actions: We plan to keep supporting the UK Plastics Pact. The Pact brings together organisations from across the plastics supply chain, with four key targets for 2025 that aim to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated. Current Pact business members are responsible for 80% of plastic packaging sold through UK supermarkets.

Promotion of collaboration with the private sector, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and civil society organisations: As above, we plan to keep supporting the UK Plastics Pact.

Support for research and development of innovative solutions: In Northern Ireland, work is ongoing with Queens University Belfast.

None reported

A recent Litter Composition Analysis showed 78% of litter found was made of plastic in Northern Ireland.

Investment in infrastructure: In Northern Ireland, the Household Waste Collaborative Change Programme will continue.

Promotion of collection, sorting, reuse and/or recycling schemes (e.g. deposit return schemes): As above for our plans to introduce a deposit return scheme. We anticipate that the introduction of a deposit return scheme in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland would be in late 2024 at the earliest.

We plan to develop and introduce the proposals outlined in our recent consultation on consistency in household and business recycling in England.

Establishment or revision of economic incentives (e.g. subsidies) or disincentives (e.g. taxes, charges): The Plastic Packaging Tax will be introduced from April 2022.

In Northern Ireland, the Carrier Bag Levy will be refreshed.

Establishment or revision of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes: As above, we have recently consulted on our proposals to introduce extended producer responsibility for packaging. This includes the use of modulated fees to incentivise the use of recyclable packaging and setting new recycling targets to 2030.

Delivery of awareness raising and education campaigns: As above.

Provision of reliable packaging and/or product information to consumers: As above.

Establishment or revision of recycling guidance and standard on plastic packaging and/or products: Under extended producer responsibility, to inform the fees that will apply to different types of packaging and how packaging is labelled (recyclable / not recyclable) producers will need to undertake recyclability assessments using an agreed methodology/approach.

Encouragement of voluntary actions: We plan to keep supporting the UK Plastics Pact. The Pact brings together organisations from across the plastics supply chain, with four key targets for 2025 that aim to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated. Current Pact business members are responsible for 80% of plastic packaging sold through UK supermarkets.

Promotion of collaboration with the private sector, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and civil society organisations: As above, we plan to keep supporting the UK Plastics Pact.

Establishment or revision of economic incentives (e.g. subsidies) or disincentives (e.g. taxes, charges): On 3 March 2021, we published a note providing details on the introduction of the Plastic Packaging Tax: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-plastic-packaging-tax-from-april-2022/introduction-of-plastic-packaging-tax-2021 and in June 2021 the Finance Act 2021, including legislation to introduce the Plastic Packaging Tax, received Royal Assent.

Other actions taken: The Plastic Packaging Tax will apply to plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into the UK, that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic. The tax was estimated to lead to around 40% more recycled plastic being used in 2022-23, saving nearly 200,000 tonnes of CO2. The tax will be introduced from April 2022.

Establishment or revision of Extended Producer Responsibility scheme: Our reforms to extended producer responsibility for packaging will see material quality incentivized across the packaging value chain. Modulated fees will drive better packaging design and the use of recyclable material. Payment mechanisms to those providing packaging waste management services will factor in quality of material and subject to the outcome of the consultation it has been proposed that material quality standards will apply at the sorting and reprocessing stages.

Establishment or revision of economic incentives (e.g. subsidies) or disincentives (e.g. taxes, charges): The Plastic Packaging Tax will be introduced from April 2022.

In Northern Ireland, the Carrier Bag Levy will be refreshed.

Delivery of awareness raising and education campaigns: In Northern Ireland, there will be a continued focus on plastic pollution, tackling plastics and work through delivery partners such as WRAP and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

Provision of reliable packaging and/or product information to consumers: As part of extended producer responsibility for packaging, we are proposing that producers will have an obligation to label their packaging as to whether it is recyclable or not. This will help improve material quality, and the supply of material to meet the demand for increased recycled content in plastic packaging.

The department continually seeks proactive, positive opportunities to promote the work we are doing to tackle plastic pollution, through communications with stakeholders, environmental groups, elected representatives and of course the public through both press and digital communications.

In the past 12 months we have seen significant policies come to fruition, which have provided important communications opportunities, including:

• Implementation of the plastic straw, stirrer and cotton bud ban: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/start-of-ban-on-plastic-straws-stirrers-and-cotton-buds

• Latest carrier bag sales, with 95% reduction in main supermarkets: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plastic-carrier-bag-sales-slashed-by-more-than-95-since-5p-charge-introduced

• Confirmation and implementation of the extension to the carrier bag charge: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/war-on-plastic-waste-stepped-up-with-extension-of-plastic-bag-charge

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/10p-plastic-bag-charge-introduced-in-england

• Consultations launched for our three major waste reforms, namely the Deposit Return Scheme, Packaging EPR and Consistent Collections: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/landmark-reforms-to-boost-recycling-and-fight-plastic-pollution

Development of a Plan to Eliminate Plastic Pollution in Northern Ireland is underway. The Plan will incorporate new and ongoing actions to eliminate plastic pollution. A call for evidence to inform the plan has been launched

To continue our positive drumbeat of communications on tackling plastic pollution, we have a comprehensive communications plan in place for ministers, outlining the various opportunities over the next few months as we approach COP26. Although details cannot be provided at this stage, this includes potential announcements surrounding further action we will be proposing to take to further tackle plastic pollution, including publishing the findings of the three major waste reform consultations. Our plans will be tailored around our core objective of reducing plastic usage, waste, and pollution, where we plan to drive structural and behavioural change through comms over the coming years.

In Northern Ireland, there will be restrictions on sale of certain commonly littered SUP items, review of charges for certain SUP items, grants scheme to tackle marine litter.

Ministry/department of the Economy / Finance / Treasury/ The Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic: Northern Ireland: Challenges in encouraging reusables – people concerned about hygiene. Recycling has seen a downward trend due to the pandemic also.