Jenni Hume, UK and Ireland director of Reloop, commented: “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.
“To meet their goal of a zero-waste economy, ministers must rapidly roll-out policies across the economy to embed the polluter pays principle, ensuring that producers cover a range of costs to improve collection and recycling rates.”
Drinks industry calls for EPR reconsideration
This past week, the drinks industry has urged the government to rethink its EPR proposals.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) released a statement on Thursday (5 September 2024) calling for more support in the face of “soaring costs” and labelled EPR costs as potentially “eyewatering”.
The trade body warned that the policy could “lead some brewers to make heartbreaking decisions about whether they can keep making their beer”.
Emma McClarkin, CEO of the BBPA, said: “Our sector’s growth will underpin economic growth, which is why if the Government truly is business-friendly, it must recognise that pubs and brewers are shouldering multiple taxes and costs that are squashing growth and could lead to businesses failing.
“There is no more meat on the bone to cut, which is why it we are calling on the Government reduces the cost of doing business so we can continue to make a massive contribution to the public purse.”
CEO of Fentimans, Ian Bray, told The Times: “It would be tragic if this inequitable policy destroyed our business after 120 years just because it hasn’t been thought through.”
Find out more at the EPR Conference on 14 November in London.
The unfairness of the glass base fee is a. that it is applied to all wholesaler-supplied glass-packaged beverages to the hospitality industry even though the hospitality industry will pay for collection and recycling and b. that plastic bottles are exempt because they’re DRS. A 500gm glass bottle will attract a base fee of 13p at the mid-range fee of £260/t.