Despite calls from environmental groups to go ahead, the UK government has announced it is deferring extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging fees for a year, until October 2025.
Defra (The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) published the decision this morning (25 July) in an update to its guidance on the policy before taking the webpage down and removing the announcement.
Circular Online has approached Defra to confirm if EPR has been delayed.
The updated guidance confirmed that producers will not have to pay any fees in 2024, however, they are still required to follow the guidance and report packaging data for 2023. Producers must also continue to pay any fees due under previous regulations.
The announcement comes after media reports that the UK government were considering delaying the scheme.
Earlier this year, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) called on the government to “urgently rethink” its “fundamentally flawed” EPR reforms, stating that retailers are concerned that without “significant investment in recycling infrastructure in Britain”, households could be forced to foot the bill for EPR without seeing any meaningful improvements to recycling rates.
A survey by environmental compliance data company Ecoveritas found 42.9% of respondents rated themselves as unprepared for EPR but aware of the changes.
Industry reactions
Reacting to the announcement, Lee Marshall, Policy and External Affairs Director, CIWM, commented: “After raising our concerns directly with the Prime Minister just last month, CIWM is disappointed to learn that EPR for packaging fees have been deferred for a year.
“While this is not altogether surprising, we believe this delay will have a significant impact, resulting in the public continuing to bear the cost of packaging recycling and disposal, less investment in recycling infrastructure due to a loss of confidence in the legislative framework, and a significant slowing of the UK’s green economy.
We reiterate our call for government to press ahead with executing the reforms on EPR and consistent collections.
“Today, we reiterate our call for government to press ahead with executing the reforms on EPR and consistent collections. The sector is ready, willing and able to implement them and bring about the step-change in recycling rates that they are designed to deliver.
“This is a valuable opportunity for the UK to show strong leadership and demonstrate its commitment to lead on combatting climate change, and CIWM stands ready to support as we continue our journey to a world beyond waste.”
The lack of clarity has made it difficult for organisations to plan and invest the billions required for infrastructure and services.
The Environmental Services Association (ESA) Executive Director Jacob Hayler said it’s “incredible” that after five years critical waste reforms continue to be hamstrung by “dither and delay”.
In a statement passed to Circular Online by the ESA, Hayler said: “Recycling rates have stagnated in the UK for a decade and other recently announced longer-term measures – like banning organic waste from landfill and taxing energy recovery emissions – must be balanced by recycling reforms that incentivise the removal of wasteful packaging from sale; support viable markets for secondary plastics and which provide consumers with a consistent, clear and easy-to-use set of recycling services across the nation.
“As the NAO notes in its report, the lack of clarity has made it difficult for organisations to plan and invest the billions required for infrastructure and services to raise recycling rates and reduce waste. Continued political malaise over the reforms simply delays the UK’s inevitable and vital transition to a more sustainable and resource-efficient economy – placing us well behind other nations – and puts at risk billions of pounds of investment in new green infrastructure and jobs.”
