What is changing?
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) reforms will represent the most significant change to the Producer Responsibility (Packaging Waste) Regulations since their implementation in 1997.
The changes will affect businesses that place packaged products onto the UK market, as they
will have to pay 100% of the costs associated with dealing with packaging waste (known as full net cost recovery). Obligated businesses will fund both the collection and recycling of packaging waste; the former is currently funded by local authorities using money accrued from local taxpayers.
Under the current Packaging Waste Recovery Note (PRN) system producers only have to fund the recycling of collected packaging, making it more affordable whilst still achieving national recycling targets. However, it is estimated that these contributions cover only 7% of post-consumer waste management operations in the UK.
Under the reformed Regulations,
producers’ compliance costs could increase between 6 – 20 times depending on the final design of the new system. Bills may further increase if businesses incur additional costs under the proposed Deposit Return Schemes and Plastic Packaging Tax.