A cross-party committee is calling for a ban on UK plastic waste exports. Britain's plastic waste is still illegally dumped and incinerated abroad, contributing to "shocking" and "irreversible" effects on human health and the environment.

A cross-party committee is calling for a blanket ban on UK plastic waste exports by 2027 after finding that the waste trade is dumping toxic substances on the soil of host countries linked to cancer, liver disease, skin changes and abnormal fetal development.
 

The commission recommended a significant tightening of sanctions, as waste crime has become a low-risk, high-reward act, and current penalties are not sufficient to deter illegal activity.

A new report by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has found that the UK sends more than 60% of its plastic packaging waste abroad, with many economic, social and health consequences for countries that are less able to dispose of it sustainably. materials. The most common destination is Turkey, where overwhelming evidence has been found of British plastic waste dumped in the southeastern province of Adana.
 

Speaking to the committee, Greenpeace's Nihan Temiz Atas described the effects on the environment and human health as "irreversible and shocking", adding that "80% of the plastic waste found in the field belongs to the UK".

The commission's chairman, Sir Robert Goodwill, said Britain had become "dependent on exporting its waste overseas" and "made it someone else's problem". To clarify the issue, MPs are calling for a ban on all exports of UK plastic waste by the end of 2027, and will publish a timetable for achieving this by March 2023.
 

Despite some reductions in the use of problematic materials and an increase in the use of recycled content in new products, the commission found that progress towards complete plastic waste management has stalled in recent years.

MEPs said that certain targets needed to be made clearer, more easily measurable and more ambitious, with a particular focus on reducing the amount of waste produced before re-use and recycling were promoted.
 

We have been very clear that the UK needs to manage more of its waste at home and that is why we are committed to banning the export of plastic waste. Illegal exports of waste, including to Turkey, are restricted with stricter controls, and those found to be exporting waste illegally face up to two years in prison and unlimited fines.

- said the spokesperson of the Ministry of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)