LARAC has urged the next government to prioritise and address critical waste management reforms as part of its policy agenda ahead of the General Election on 4 July.
The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) said the next government should prioritise Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR); Simpler Recycling in England; Deposit Return Schemes (DRS); and funding and support for Local Authorities
LARAC said it “firmly supports” the principle of EPR, which mandates that packaging producers take full financial responsibility for the lifecycle of their products.
However, delays in the implementation of EPR have left local authorities “in limbo” and unable to adequately plan and budget for necessary service changes, LARAC said.
The Committee said that the complexities introduced by the staggered implementation of business and non-household municipal (NHM) collections exacerbate these challenges.
LARAC has called for assurances that EPR funding will be additional and not reduce existing central government funding for local services. They also want improvement plans to be supportive and not punitive.
The Committee also wants clarification on the definitions of “efficient and effective” processes for local authorities to comply with EPR.
LARAC said it advocates for consistent material collection across local authorities. However, it believes the government’s proposal for fortnightly residual waste collections undermines the goals of Simpler Recycling reforms.
The Committee said the next government should reconsider the stance on residual waste collection frequencies in England to support waste hierarchy principles.
As well as recognise the importance of longer intervals for residual waste collections in achieving recycling targets and reducing overall waste across the UK.
LARAC has called for the government to delay DRS implementation until after EPR and Simpler Recycling reforms are fully operational and assessed.
The current decision to delay DRS until October 2027 leaves a funding gap for local authorities managing DRS materials starting from the commencement of EPR in April 2025, LARAC said.
We look forward to collaborating with the next government to enhance the effectiveness of waste collection and recycling systems in the UK.
The Committee called for interim funding solutions to manage DRS materials until full integration with the EPR scheme.
As well as transparent processes for local authorities to manage and reintegrate DRS materials without incurring additional, uncompensated costs.
LARAC has also stressed the need for financial support from the central government to cover transition costs, public education campaigns, and infrastructure upgrades necessary for new collection systems.
Commenting on the statement, LARAC Chair Cathy Cook said: “We look forward to collaborating with the next government to enhance the effectiveness of waste collection and recycling systems in the UK.
“It is imperative that we work together to achieve our collective environmental goals.”
