Government “right to extend the timelines on its packaging reform”

Responding to reports that the Government will  “defer extended producer responsibility for packaging fees for one year”, Andrew Opie, Director of Food and Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said:

“The Government is right to extend the timelines on its packaging reform. Its plans are not ready, and this would simply drive up food prices without delivering the improvements in recycling everybody wants. We need to use the additional time to design an effective recycling scheme that delivers value for money for households across the UK.

“Recycling rates have stagnated for a decade. If they are to rise, there must be better coordination of the Government’s waste reforms so that there is consistency in how we recycle across the country. It’s also vital that the £2bn Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is expected to raise annually, is targeted towards improving infrastructure to boost the supply of recycled material for reuse. We look forward to continuing to work with Government to ensure that EPR delivers for the environment and for consumers.”