This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42033760
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Budget 2017: Tax on takeaway boxes to be considered | Budget 2017: Tax on takeaway boxes to be considered |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| A tax on takeaway boxes is to be considered in a bid to tackle the problem of plastic waste. | A tax on takeaway boxes is to be considered in a bid to tackle the problem of plastic waste. |
| In Wednesday's Budget, Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to call for evidence on whether a tax on the use of the most environmentally damaging single-use plastics would help. | In Wednesday's Budget, Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to call for evidence on whether a tax on the use of the most environmentally damaging single-use plastics would help. |
| Single-use plastics include packaging, bubble wrap, and polystyrene takeaway boxes. | Single-use plastics include packaging, bubble wrap, and polystyrene takeaway boxes. |
| Greenpeace said ocean plastic pollution was "a global emergency". | Greenpeace said ocean plastic pollution was "a global emergency". |
| Meanwhile, Stephen Hammond, a close friend of the chancellor, has told the BBC that the chancellor wants to use next Wednesday's Budget to "attack problems" that contributed to the Tories' poor election performance. | |
| He plans to use "headroom" in the public finances to target spending on housing and health, the former transport minister told Newsnight. | |
| 'Heartbreaking' | |
| The Treasury said the work on a potential plastic tax would examine the lifecycle of single-use plastics. | |
| It did not suggest the investigation would include plastic bottles, which can be recycled, although in practice many also end up in land-fill or the sea. | It did not suggest the investigation would include plastic bottles, which can be recycled, although in practice many also end up in land-fill or the sea. |
| However, the government has already said it would consider whether to introduce a "reward and return" scheme for plastic bottles to try to improve recycling rates. | However, the government has already said it would consider whether to introduce a "reward and return" scheme for plastic bottles to try to improve recycling rates. |
| The Treasury said the amount of single-use plastic wasted every year in the UK would fill London's Royal Albert Hall 1,000 times and cited the success of the 5p charge on plastic bags to illustrate the feasibility of a levy. | The Treasury said the amount of single-use plastic wasted every year in the UK would fill London's Royal Albert Hall 1,000 times and cited the success of the 5p charge on plastic bags to illustrate the feasibility of a levy. |
| Birds, sea mammals and turtles die from consuming or becoming tangled in plastic waste. | Birds, sea mammals and turtles die from consuming or becoming tangled in plastic waste. |
| Sir David Attenborough recently described the "heartbreaking" sight of an albatross feeding plastic to its young chick instead of fish. | Sir David Attenborough recently described the "heartbreaking" sight of an albatross feeding plastic to its young chick instead of fish. |
| Tisha Brown, oceans campaigner for Greenpeace UK, said the move "recognises the significance of the problem and the urgent need for a solution." | Tisha Brown, oceans campaigner for Greenpeace UK, said the move "recognises the significance of the problem and the urgent need for a solution." |
| The call for evidence is expected to be launched in early 2018. | The call for evidence is expected to be launched in early 2018. |