The new packaging extended producer (pEPR) scheme passed by UK Parliament shifts the cost of collection and sorting from local authorities to producers, while heavier containers like glass will incur higher levies.
Glass fees for beverage packaging will be around 49 times higher than other, less recyclable, materials leaving brands with no choice but to move away from using 100 percent recyclable glass products.
British Glass, who represents the UK glass industry, says the move will lead to job losses in a sector which employs 120,000 people in its supply chain.
The new packaging tax, set to be implemented from April 2025, will also push up the price of many items and could conversely lead to more throwaway plastic, warns trade body, British Glass.
Chief Executive of British Glass, Dave Dalton, said, “The Government has failed to listen to concerns from producers and trade bodies and is ploughing on with this ill-thought-out scheme which is a hammer blow to the glass sector and British manufacturing.
“British Glass supports the principle of pEPR and that packaging waste collection and recycling needs to be reformed to deliver a circular economy for the UK.
“However, this scheme will have a profound impact on competitiveness against other packaging formats – leading to job losses predominantly in the UK’s manufacturing heartlands.
“Prices will increase both for consumers and SMEs who are already operating on wafer-thin margins.
“The effect on the environment is equally depressing. The Government has a plan for a circular and zero-waste economy, yet the pEPR policy will incentivise more plastic – which is less circular than glass. We urge the Government to re-think this policy and meet with businesses and British Glass as a priority.”
British Glass and several large food and drink producers had raised concerns with MPs and Ministers on the pEPR policy’s negative impact.
At a recent debate Recycling Minister, Mary Creagh, said, “As we look at the global plastic pollution treaty negotiations in Busan, South Korea, we certainly hope to play our part in that work.”
Unfortunately, pEPR as it stands will work against this, said British Glass Technical Director, Dr Nick Kirk: “The aim of pEPR is to drive away from difficult to recycle packaging materials to recyclable packaging materials, but the current policy will incentivise the move away from glass packaging to less recyclable materials such as plastic packaging. The proposed pEPR fees are calculated on the weight of packaging, however packaging is bought in units not weight, this will distort the packaging market as glass will have a substantial pEPR fee compared to competing packaging materials. Glass is 100 percent recyclable and is infinitely recyclable as it does not deteriorate on each recycle.”