Extended producer responsibility: packaging

This instrument will introduce a new extended producer responsibility system for packaging. It is proposed that the enhanced policy of extended producer responsibility will be adopted in late 2023; however, the UK has had a producer responsibility regime for packaging in place since 1997. Please tell us the main goals in maximum 500 words* This instrument will introduce a new extended producer responsibility system for packaging. The proposal is that the full net costs of managing packaging waste will be placed on those businesses that place packaged goods for sale on the UK market and who are best placed to influence the design and use of packaging. The aim is to move packaging waste up the waste hierarchy and achieve higher recycling rates and to incentivize greater use of reusable and refillable packaging. By incentivizing the design and use of packaging it is also expected that this will make it easier to manage packaging at end of life. The key proposals underpinning our reforms are: Payment of 'disposal' costs Producers will be required to fund the full net-costs associated with the collection, sorting and treatment of the packaging they place on the market, once it becomes waste, and to support the achievement of packaging waste recycling targets. It is proposed that the costs paid by producers should include for consumer information campaigns on recycling, and the costs associated with cleaning up littered packaging. This proposal embodies the principle of the 'polluter pays'. Modulated fees The fees producers pay will be varied (or modulated) to incentivise the policy outcomes; for example, producers may pay a lower fee for packaging which is easy to recycle or reuse, and a higher fee for packaging that is not. Fees modulation will be designed to encourage producers to think carefully about packaging they place on the market, and to design, produce and use packaging that is easier to recycle at end of life or reuse. This will incentivise and accelerate adoption of packaging types that are easy to recycle and reduce the use of avoidable or unnecessary packaging. Mandatory labelling of packaging We also intend that measures introduced as part of EPR will make it easier for consumers to play their part. Our proposals include a requirement for producers to label their packaging as 'recycle' or 'don't recycle'. This will make it easier for people to know how to dispose of packaging waste correctly. Packaging recycling targets We are committed to setting ambitious new packaging waste recycling targets on producers that meet or exceed EU targets. The targets will be set by packaging material type, as is the case now. We also intend to explore obligations or targets to encourage the use of reusable and refillable packaging. The EPR measures will be key in helping to achieve these new targets, in combination with other ambitious actions under our Resources and Waste Strategy.