Connecting the disconnects

Searby examines the impact the UK Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) has had, the teething problems it has encountered and the challenges that lie ahead. On the face of it, the first year of the PPT has been a success, but a deeper delve reveals some fundamental disconnects. The first two tax return periods (April to June 2022 and July to September 2022) collectively raised 135.8m British pounds of revenue--roughly in line with the government's original estimate of 235m British pounds. According to an ENDS report, only 3,559 businesses had signed up for the tax in the first 11 months, far fewer than the 20,000 the HMRC had calculated would be affected.