MP Derek Thomas asked a parliamentary question to DEFRA Minister Jo Churchill on what the department is intending to do about the pollution to soils of plastics, as outlined in the UNFAO report last year.
She replied on 27 January 27: “DEFRA has commissioned an external expert organisation to look into plastic within digestate and compost.
“This short project, ending early this year, includes searching existing literature on the potential risks of compostable and non-compostable plastic fragments added to agricultural soil from digestate or compost, and will highlight further evidence gaps.
“We will carefully consider the findings of this project, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recommendations in considering next steps and any potential actions in this area.”
BBIA is involved in this work and welcomes the Minister’s reply.