Soft plastic recycling laws have been delayed – an expert explains why

RymanStudio/Shutterstock Mandatory kerbside collection of soft plastic (crisp packets, bread bags, plastic wrap) has just been pushed back from 2027 to 2030. On July 16, the UK government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) quietly confirmed this change. The reason, according to Defra, is that the facilities and infrastructure just aren’t ready to accommodate the material. Currently, only 7% soft plastics are recycled in the UK, illustrating that recycling urgently…