Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Defra to reconsider EPR fees for glass after outcry

Defra to reconsider EPR fees for glass after outcry
iStock image

Defra will reconsider its system of calculating fees for extended producer responsibility (EPR) following industry's outcry and warnings over huge cost increases that would “inevitably” be passed on to consumers.

In a meeting with producers and local authorities on Monday (16), Defra bosses confirmed they had been bombarded with complaints from the glass industry after its estimates for the cost of recycling were unveiled at up to £330 per tonne.


Defra also admitted the new model was still “under development”, though it had been intended as a model for other sectors to follow, with the rethink adding to uncertainty over the future of the charges.

It said it “understands the concerns from the glass industry, in particular regarding the higher-than-expected fees using this approach” and confirmed a meeting would take place with industry bosses that could see major changes to the way the fees are calculated.

“We are currently reviewing the approach to include a consideration of a volume-based approach versus using a weight-based approach,” Defra said.

Nick Kirk, technical director of British Glass, said, “The newly introduced base fees, calculated based on the weight of packaging materials, place a disproportionate burden on the glass industry compared to other materials.

“These fees are much higher than expected, and British Glass fear implementation without revision could lead to significant job losses within the glass industry due to material switching.

“We urge the government and stakeholders to reconsider the fee structure of the EPR scheme in advance of the second set of illustrative base fees due to be published in September. Adopting a cost per unit system will drive better environmental outcomes, as individual units of packaging impact the environment rather than the weight of packaging."

Although the actual rates for the first year of EPR scheme for packaging will not be published until April 2025, Defra recently published its estimated base fees for EPR, the flagship policy intended to make the industry responsible for the cost of recycling the packaging it puts on the market.

British Glass has called for the introduction of the scheme to be delayed, warning that there will be “significant job losses” across the industry unless there is an “urgent and critical reassessment” of the fees. British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) claimed the charges could add up to 7p on all of the 3.2 billion bottles of beer sold each year in the UK, a total of more than £200m.

More for you

Yvette Cooper

Home secretary Yvette Cooper speaking at the annual conference hosted by the NPCC and APCC on 19 November 2024

Photo: GOV.UK

Home secretary pledges to restore neighbourhood policing

Home secretary Yvette Cooper has announced plans to rebuild neighbourhood policing and combat surging shop theft as part of an ambitious programme of reform to policing.

In her first major speech at the annual conference hosted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners on Tuesday, Cooper highlighted four of the key areas for reform: neighbourhood policing, police performance, structures and capabilities, crime prevention.

Keep ReadingShow less
Andrew Bailey acknowledges retailers' warning on job cuts
Bank of England building on Threadneedle Street, CLondon (Photo: iStock)
Getty Images/iStockphoto

Andrew Bailey acknowledges retailers' warning on job cuts

Retailers are right to warn of potential job cuts as a result of tax increases announced at last month’s budget, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has said.

Bailey appeared before the cross-party Treasury select committee on Tuesday (19), after almost 80 retailers claimed rising costs would make “job losses inevitable, and higher prices a certainty”.

Keep ReadingShow less
High Street shopping street
Photo: iStock

High Street Rental Auctions: Independent retailers urged to engage with local councils

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has urged independent shop owners to reach out to their local councils about the government's newly announced High Street Rental Auction (HSRA) powers, which aim to tackle persistently vacant commercial properties on UK high streets.

Introduced through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, the HSRA legislation will come into force on 2 December. It will give local authorities the ability to put the leases of long-term empty shops up for public auction, allowing businesses and community groups to secure short-term tenancies.

Keep ReadingShow less
Home energy smartmeter
Photo: iStock

Inflation jumps in October on higher energy bills

Britain's annual inflation rate jumped more than expected in October to back above the Bank of England's target as households and businesses faced higher energy bills, official data showed Wednesday.

The Consumer Prices Index reached 2.3 per cent from a three-year low of 1.7 percent in the 12 months to September, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nestle

Nestle logos are pictured in the supermarket of Nestle headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland, February 13, 2020

REUTERS/Pierre Albouy/File Photo

Nestle to step up marketing investment; Waters and beverages to become standalone business

Nestle on Tuesday said it will increase investment in advertising and marketing to 9 per cent of sales by the end of 2025. The company also announced plans to make its waters and premium beverages activities a global standalone business from New Year.

Unveiling a plan to fuel and accelerate growth at a Capital Markets Day for investors and analysts, the Swiss group also said it aims cost savings of at least CHF 2.5 billion (£2.25bn) above existing initiatives by end 2027 to fund increased investments.

Keep ReadingShow less