Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Deferred
Paragraph: 55
The new Government should publish, in 2023/24, its plan for reuse and refill obligations that...
Recommendation
The new Government should publish, in 2023/24, its plan for reuse and refill obligations that will be introduced in 2025 under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging, so that businesses can begin the process of adapting their product The price of plastic: ending the toll of plastic waste 59 designs and supply chains. We also recommend that the proposed review of the new EPR scheme, planned previously for 2026/27, is tasked with considering changes to EPR fees that would encourage the use of reusable packaging. This review should also examine the feasibility of using the scheme to encourage more generic/universal packaging.
Government Response Summary
The government intends to come forward with proposals for reuse/refill obligations in 2024, including measures like targets and obligations on businesses that use packaging, and whether there is a role for modulating fees.
Paragraph Reference:
55
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The government’s initial focus of the new pEPR measures is on increasing the use of recyclable packaging. pEPR will see producers’ fees varied (modulated) to account for certain criteria, with the initial focus on increasing the recyclability of packaging. Producers who use easily recyclable packaging will pay less than those who use hard to recycle, or unrecyclable, packaging. The government agrees with the Committee that more use of reusable packaging is desirable to increase the circularity of packaging. It remains our intention to consider appropriate measures to encourage the use of reusable/refillable packaging. Measures such as targets and obligations on businesses that use packaging, and whether there is a role for modulating fees will be considered. We intend to come forward with our proposals in 2024.