Ellie Ames 23 October 2024

Councils call for full waste service costs under EPR

Councils call for full waste service costs under EPR image
Image: Peter_Fleming / Shutterstock.com

Council bosses have urged the Government to ensure local authorities receive the full costs for delivering waste and recycling services under new packaging reforms.

It comes as new analysis commissioned by the Local Government Association, County Councils Network (CCN), and District Councils’ Network found that households binned 5.6 million tonnes of packaging waste last year.

The research found that 3.2 million tonnes of this was put into recycling bins, 2.3 million tonnes in residual bins, and 70,000 tonnes was mistakenly put in food waste.

From 2026, under the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, industry will be required to pay for the processing of packaging waste.

But the local government organisations warned that recyclable waste that goes in the wrong bins costs more to treat, and said these extra costs are unlikely to be met by payments from the scheme.

They also urged the Government to ensure that reforms focus on reducing unnecessary waste created in the first place and making it easier to recycle packaging, including through clearer labelling.

CCN infrastructure and planning spokesperson Richard Clewer said: ‘As this research has shown, a significant amount of recyclable waste still ends up in the wrong bin despite the best efforts of local authorities.

‘The Government must ensure that recyclable waste that is placed into incorrect bins is taken into consideration when calculating the amount that councils will get paid through the EPR scheme.

‘At a time when they are under immense financial pressures, councils should not be penalised, and producers of packaging must do more to ensure that packing ends up in the correct bin.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Cleaner and Caretaker

North Yorkshire Council
£12.65 - £13.47 per hour
Are you looking for a cleaning role that is a little different? Ripon, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Cleaner and Caretaker

North Yorkshire Council
£12.65 - £13.47 per hour
Are you looking for a cleaning role that is a little different? Bradley, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Specialist Customer Service Officer

Oxfordshire County Council
£31,537 - £34,434 per annum
Are you passionate about helping others and making a real impact in your community? We’re looking for Specialist Customer Service Officers to join our dynamic Contact Centre team, the first point of contact for a wide range of essential services acros Oxfordshire County Council , County Hall, Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Cook

North Yorkshire Council
£13.47 - £14.13 per hour
Are you keen to join a friendly team who are committed to making a real impact in their local community? Lancaster, Lancashire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Catering Assistant

North Yorkshire Council
£12.65 - £12.65 per hour
We have an opportunity to join our award-winning Facilities Management catering team. North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner