December 2024
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This conference discussed the transition to a circular economy for plastic waste in England, with a focus on next steps for the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
With Defra confirming that - rather than fast-tracking the DRS launch - it will instead stick to the previous deadline of October 2027, as well as providing a clear strategy for DRS, delegates assessed the roadmap for operationalisation of the scheme and priorities for action, as well as coordination on waste and DRS schemes across the UK.
In light of the Government’s pledge to reduce waste by moving to a circular economy, as well as announcements in the Budget that £1.1bn of funding in 2025-26 from the EPR scheme will go towards improving recycling outcomes in local authorities, and that the plastic packaging tax will be increased in line with inflation, this conference was a timely opportunity for key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the direction of policy and priorities going forward.
Looking at priorities in preparation for the country’s packaging EPR scheme, areas for discussion included:
- the role and next steps for the recently announced Producer Responsibility Organisation
- requests from stakeholders and businesses that EPR be further delayed to prevent possible negative implications for businesses
- effects of the delay to the mandatory packaging labelling requirement
- the newly announced illustrative base fees for EPR and what this means for businesses and industry going forward
- approaches to utilising the delay until 2025 to resolve certain aspects of the scheme, such as refining the regulatory system for EPR to enable its functioning across the value chain
- priorities for the EPR Steering Group moving forward, including providing clarity for stakeholders, enabling effective consultation, and supporting the design and mobilisation of the scheme
- establishing what constitutes household waste and addressing how different material life cycles can be accommodated in EPR
- implications of the scheme for SMEs
- advancing technology and innovation to enable EPR to be exercised by producers, as well as to develop performance across the recycling chain and reduce costs
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Harshal Gore, Head, Strategy and External Relations, EPR, Defra; Dr Colin Church, CEO, Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining; Ciaran Foley, CEO, Re-turn; Jordan Girling, Head, Extended Producer Responsibility, WRAP; Prof Peter Hopkinson, Professor, Circular Economy, University of Exeter; and Co-Director, Exeter Centre for the Circular Economy; and Dr Geoff Mackey, Country Manager, UK, Plastics Europe.
With a further focus on implementation of an effective DRS across sectors in England, delegates assessed:
- practicalities for ensuring the interoperability of different DRS schemes throughout the UK, and implications of different approaches in the context of global plastic treaty negotiations
- priorities for cooperation between central government and the devolved administrations to enable a coordinated approach to recycling and waste reduction
- what can be learned from the implementation and eventual success of Ireland’s newly launched DRS scheme
- the future for glass recycling, given the recent announcement that glass will not be included in DRS schemes in England and Northern Ireland
Sessions also discussed the findings of the Local Government Association’s recent analysis, which found that 5.6 million tonnes of packaging waste was binned by households last year, as well as options for increasing rates of recycling in businesses and homes, including strategies for incentives, enforcement and sanctions, and how performance can be most effectively benchmarked, measured and assessed.
The conference was an opportunity to assess progress so far and next steps for Global Plastic Treaty negotiations, with 175 nations agreeing to a legally-binding agreement on plastic pollution by the end of 2024, looking at the impact of this for plastic waste in England.
Further sessions included discussion on the progress and impact of the Single Use Plastic Ban so far, and priorities for funding and resourcing recycling. They looked at how and where to best apply these resources, examining recycling fees and incentives, and strategies for engagement with business and domestic stakeholders, including availability of information and support.
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those that attended include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from Defra; MHCLG; DBT; CCC; DESNZ; DfT; MCA; FSA; NIC; UKRI; GLD; CMA; Homes England; DAERA, NI; DECC, ROI; and the Welsh Government.
