The Minister with responsibility for circular economy Mary Creagh said she hopes to see deposit return scheme legislation “very soon” amid scathing criticism of pEPR by the beer and pub industry.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on fly-tipping, Mary Creagh said: “We will move to a circular economy. Everything that is not put back into the system through a deposit return scheme – I hope we will see legislation on that very soon – is a waste to our economy.
“We will convene a taskforce of experts from industry, academia, civil society and beyond to develop a circular economy strategy.”
The MP Coventry East has already said the UK Government plans to launch a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers before October 2027 – the deadline set by the previous government.
Creagh’s comments came after the beer and pub industry said the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme’s “eye-watering” fees would punish consumers and stifle growth.
“Eye-watering” pEPR fees will punish consumers, trade associations say
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) released initial illustrative base fees for year one of pEPR ahead of the scheme starting in October 2025.
In a letter to the Environment Secretary Steve Reed, trade associations for the beer and pub industry claimed the fees would add between 3-7p for all 330ml glass bottles – a potential “£212 million” annual cost.
The trade associations said the costs for heavier 500ml bottles could be up to 9p per bottle.
The letter was signed by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB), Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), and Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA).
When approached for comment on glass industry criticism of the scheme, a spokesperson for Defra told Circular Online: “pEPR is a vital first step in cracking down on waste as we move towards a circular economy, and we have always been clear these fees are our initial estimates.
“In line with our collaborative approach to deliver pEPR, we are continuing to meet with the glass industry to discuss more workable approaches, including for how we calculate the cost of glass.”
In the announcement of the base fees, Defra specified that the methodology for calculating the fees for glass was still “under development”.
These suggested fees pose a serious risk of business failure and could lead to extra cost for the customer.
Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, commented: “Our sector has ambitious net zero targets and is committed to a circular economy and working together to achieve this in a sustainable manner.
“However, these suggested fees pose a serious risk of business failure and could lead to extra cost for the customer, strangle investment and growth which means fewer jobs, and lead some to make heartbreaking decisions about whether they can keep making their beer.
“It is critical that Government takes a step back to consider the devastating impact this could have on our industry, which plays a vital role for the UK’s economy and employment.”
However, UK and Ireland Director at Reloop Jenni Hume came out in support of pEPR and said proposals to transfer the cost of dealing with packaging waste from councils to producers are vital for achieving a circular economy.
“The government must press ahead with policies which provide significant financial benefits to local authorities and create necessary incentives for environmentally friendly business practices,” Hume said.
