Ahead of an announcement on the base fees for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme next week, the Scotch Whisky Association, Wine and Spirit Trade Association, WineGB, British Beer and Pub Association, British Glass and UKHospitality have written to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed setting out significant concerns remaining across the industry over the scheme.
The letter highlights that in its current form, EPR will impose significantly higher costs on glass compared to a range of other materials and could result in producers switching to less recyclable materials which defies the aim of the scheme to move the UK further towards a circular economy. Despite glass being only 5% of the volume of containers placed on market, it would disproportionately cover approximately 30% of the scheme's cost.
The trade associations call for immediate action to be taken to ensure the scheme is fair, efficient and effective and does not result in producers paying twice for their packaging waste due to 'double counting', highlighting the fundamental problems with how packaging waste is defined within the current scheme.
The letter proposes that collection targets and tangible incentives for Local Authorities could improve waste collection rates and processing services, which would drive the scheme towards its aims of increasing recyclability and developing a UK circular economy.
