Only 32% of local authorities were aware of the upcoming expansion of the Emissions Trading Scheme to include Energy-from-Waste, according to a new survey by RECOUP.
The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is a system that puts a market price on carbon emissions.
The scheme currently applies to the aviation industry, but the Conservative Government proposed expanding it to waste incineration in 2028.
As part of plastic resource efficiency and recycling charity RECOUP’s annual UK Household Plastic Packaging Collection Survey, local authorities were also asked how prepared they felt for the ETS changes.
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being not prepared at all, and 10 being fully prepared), 37% gave a score of 3 or below. Only 12% gave a 7 or higher with no local authorities giving a score of 10.
Expanding the ETS to apply to the incineration of waste could cost local authorities as much as £747 million, rising to £1.1 billion in 2036, according to analysis by councils.
“Inconsitency” around communications
60% of local authorities said they have an ongoing or continuous citizen communication campaign about plastic packaging recycling.
However, RECOUP said the 2024 survey found there is inconsistency around the language used and instructions given across the UK by councils.
85% of local authorities specify that items should be empty, rinsed and/or washed, while 53% ask for items to be disposed of loose and not bagged.
54% of local authorities said they ask for plastic bottles to be flattened or squashed, which may cause confusion when the deposit return scheme (DRS) goes live in 2027.
Steve Morgan, Head of Policy & Infrastructure at RECOUP, said: “Whereas the different instructions need to reflect local sorting and processing requirements, it’s in the benefit of consumers and all stakeholders to have simple, consistent national communications messages about how to present plastics for recycling.
“Packaging EPR and DRS, through their respective Scheme Administrator and Deposit Management Organisation leadership, should build on the requirements of Simpler Recycling and provide the foundations and influence to enable one unified core set of messages about how to recycle.”
