The UK government said a desire to reduce the costs to consumers and businesses lay behind its decision to delay by a year the introduction of fees applied to producers of packaging as part of the Extended Responsibility Scheme (EPR).

In July, the government revealed it would defer the introduction of a regime where companies are required to pay fees relating to the amount of packaging they use.

In a follow up statement, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said, “Following extensive engagement with industry, and in light of the pressure facing consumers and businesses in the current economic context, new rules to ensure packaging producers pay for the cost of recycling their packaging will be deferred a year from October 2024 to 2025.

“Government 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, and we expect this process to continue – ensuring that costs are not then passed onto households later on.”

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The decision to delay producer payments was taken jointly with the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales, the government said. It would “provide industry, local authorities and waste management companies with more time to prepare to ensure the success of the scheme, helping make sure it is best designed to deliver on long term recycling goals while supporting households with the immediate challenge of high prices caused by inflation”, it added.

The UK plastics industry welcomed the government’s move. Brian Lodge, director of plastics and flexible packaging at the British Plastics Federation (BPF, London; www.bpf.co.uk), said, “Everyone wants to protect the environment for future generations, but legislation needs time to be adequately evaluated to ensure any reforms deliver the best outcome for society, while also meeting environmental objectives. 

“An enormous amount of innovation continues within the plastic packaging and recycling industries regardless of this delay – and the plastics packaging industry remains committed to reducing its environmental footprint as it continues its vital role in delivering food and drink in a hygienic, safe and cost-effective manner.” 

The government said it was committed to delivering on its commitments to eliminating avoidable waste by 2050, and recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035. The tax on plastic packaging that does not meet a minimum threshold of at least 30% recycled content, which came into force in April 2022, is unaffected by the delay to the EPR scheme, as is the upcoming ban on single-use plastic items, including cutlery and plates.