Mr. Leslie Carberry:

In terms of biodegradable packaging, there is a national standard for biodegradable compostables. Products that meet the requirements can use that standard. In terms of the policy approach, taking the example of single-use coffee cups, the intention, following the enactment of this legislation, is to make regulations introducing the levy on disposable coffee cups. We are currently minded to put in a single levy that will cover all classes of disposable coffee cups because the important message that we want to drive home is that we are trying to move from single-use disposable of any type to reusable rather than trying to segregate different types of single-use products. That is in line with requirements at EU level, where we have to take measures to disincentivise the use of single-use cups, including biodegradable ones. At a policy level, as set out in the waste action plan and in the strategy, we will always state that reusables are better than single-use items, but with specific exemptions for specific circumstances. That is the approach we will be taking. Again, taking disposable coffee cup as an example, we would not see a mass change from one type of disposable cup to another. We are trying to shift from disposable items to reusable items. We are hoping the levy will help us to achieve that.