Packaging Reforms Scheme Deferred Until 2025 -

NEW RULES to ensure packaging producers pay for the costs of recycling their packaging will be deferred for a year until October 2025, the government has announced.

This decision is in light of the current economic pressures facing consumers and businesses, says the government. It follows concerns from industry which called for the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme to be drawn out.

Packaging Reforms Scheme Deferred

The extension of the EPR scheme has been welcomed by the Construction Products Association (CPA). In a new statement, the CPA said, “There has been continuing lack of clarity from government as to how the scheme will operate leaving businesses unable to plan or budget for the changes ahead.

“We hope this extension will give time for government to provide that much needed clarity and granularity.

“We continue to challenge government on its assertion that construction products sold through builders’ merchants/distributors will result in all the packaging waste entering the household waste stream. It does not and therefore should not be subject to Waste Management Fees through the EPR.”

The government says it will use the additional year to continue to discuss the scheme’s design with industry and reduce the costs of implementation wherever possible.

In anticipation of EPR, producers have already started to use less packaging and adopt easier to recycle packaging formats in order to ensure costs are not passed onto households later on.

Environment Minister, Rebecca Pow, said: “We’re determined to transform the way we collect, recycle and reuse our waste materials so we eliminate all avoidable waste by 2050 in a way that works for households and consumers.

“We are also listening to industry and ensuring our work to tackle inflation and to drive up recycling go hand in hand, to make sure our reforms will be a success.”

The government has a target to eliminate avoidable waste by 2050 and recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035.

The Extended Producer Responsibility scheme was designed to help meet the government’s target to eliminate avoidable waste by 2050 and recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035. The government says the scheme will also build on other measures, including tax on plastic packaging which does not meet a minimum threshold of at least 30% recycled content, and upcoming bans on single-use plastic items.

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