Closed petition Ban non-recyclable wrapping paper

The Government should ban wrapping paper which cannot be recycled through normal paper recycling routes in all collection areas. This is a particular issue at Christmas, when a huge amount of non-recyclable wrapping paper is bought and then thrown away.

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Each year on average every household in the UK uses 4 rolls, which is 227,000 miles of wrapping paper. Due its shiny nature much of this cannot be recycled, and an estimated 83km2 gets put into landfill. This area would wrap Big Ben / Elizabeth Tower 260,000 times. This can easily be stopped.

Several years ago there was a campaign to decrease the plastic packaging in Easter eggs and this was highly successful. Let’s make this Christmas more recyclable than ever!

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MPs call for ban on all plastic waste exports

MPs on the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee have called for a ban on the export of all plastic waste from the UK by 2027 to reduce the country's contribution to global plastic waste pollution. 

Read a summary of the Committee's report on plastic waste

Report on ending the impact of plastic waste

Earlier this month, the Committee published a report on the impact of plastic waste and ways of reducing it. In their report, MPs called on the Government to restrict the amount of plastic that can be exported from the UK. They also called on the Government to step up the enforcement of existing rules to prevent criminal gangs illegally exporting and dumping UK-produced waste. 

The report follows a series of evidence sessions earlier this year, where the Committee questions representatives from charities, environmental campaigners and commercial trade experts. At these sessions the Committee explored:

  • whether the Government’s current ambitions to reduce plastic waste were enough
  • how alternatives to plastic consumption can be identified and supported
  • how England's current plastic exports impact other countries.

Find out more about the Committee's inquiry into plastic waste and read oral evidence from the Committee's inquiry.

What is the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee? 

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is a cross-party group of backbench MPs that scrutinises the administration, spending and policy of the Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 

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