Companies will be liable for clean-up charges if their packaging is littered, according to new UK regulations. They will also be punished if their trash is difficult to recycle or if they fail to meet their recycling goals. The measures, which will take effect in 2024, are part of the Welsh government’s efforts to cut waste. Wales is rated third in the world for household recycling, and the Welsh government plans to reuse or recycle all garbage by 2050. The new “polluter pays” rules, which are being implemented across the UK, would shift the burden of dealing with packaging trash from families to companies. Ministers hope that this will encourage firms to use less packaging and more easily recyclable materials. Businesses responsible for the most regularly littered items will also face penalties in Wales and Scotland.

The money raised would go toward improving kerbside garbage collection. Deputy climate change minister Lee Waters said, “We’re proud to be introducing these landmark changes which will lead producers to think about the packaging they are putting on the market and help to incentivize recycling, alongside our fellow governments in the UK.” “We are going further again, by committing to charge producers if their items are commonly littered, we will not shy away from the challenges ahead.”