The UK Chancellor , Philip Hammond , announced plans to consult on “ a new tax on the manufacture and import of plastic packaging which contains less than 30 per cent recycled plastic , ” during his budget statement on 29 October . Hammond said that the tax , which will come into effect from 1 April 2018 , in conjunction with reforms of the Packaging Producer Responsibility System Act , would “ transform the face of sustainable packaging ” . But 'latte levy' proposals are rejected and Budget speech ignores clean energy and climate action Chancellor Philip Hammond has confirmed the government is to introduce a new tax on plastic packaging as it looks to step up efforts to tackle the scourge of plastic waste. The budget also included £ 20 m ( $ 25.5 m ) of funding for plastics recycling improvements , £ 10 m for plastics research and development , and £ 10 m to explore new approaches to plastic recycling and reducing litter .
The UK Chancellor , Philip Hammond , announced plans to consult on “ a new tax on the manufacture and import of plastic packaging which contains less than 30 per cent recycled plastic , ” during his budget statement on 29 October . Hammond said that the tax , which will come into effect from 1 April 2018 , in conjunction with reforms of the Packaging Producer Responsibility System Act , would “ transform the face of sustainable packaging ” . The budget also included £ 20 m ( $ 25.5 m ) of funding for plastics recycling improvements , £ 10 m for plastics research and development , and £ 10 m to explore new approaches to plastic recycling and reducing litter .