BRITISH Glass has welcomed a move by the UK Government designed to cut double charging for recycling the same packaging.
Glass drinks containers sold directly from producers to pubs, restaurants, and other licensed hospitality venues will no longer be liable for Extended Producer Responsibility fees from April 2027.
Other measures include an update to the material value assigned to glass packaging and plans to accelerate higher modulation factors for less recyclable packaging materials from Year 3 of pEPR.
Nick Kirk, executive director of British Glass, said, “Today’s announcement is a welcome sign that government has listened to the concerns of UK glass manufacturers and recognises the importance of maintaining a strong domestic glass industry. The proposed changes begin to address some of the unintended consequences of pEPR and better recognise the environmental benefits of glass. The planned update to the glass material value, the proposed acceleration of modulation factors and the commitment to review future fee structures all move the system in a fairer direction.
“We also welcome measures to address the treatment of glass packaging supplied to the hospitality sector. While we need to understand the full impact of the proposed exemption, it is encouraging to see government recognising the challenges facing hospitality businesses and taking steps to avoid unnecessary costs. We particularly welcome the forthcoming calls for evidence on modulation and reuse. We hope this marks the beginning of a broader shift towards a packaging system that rewards circularity and real recycling outcomes.”
Jason Galley, director and chief executive of the Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA), said, “Nobody should be paying twice but there is a further consequence of Defra’s decision that MPMA has repeatedly raised with policy officials. Removing EPR costs from glass packaging does not make those costs disappear, instead they will simply be redistributed across other packaging materials.
“Because steel is denser and heavier, the steel food can will shoulder a disproportionate share of that additional burden. This will widen the already perverse EPR fee differential between steel food cans and competing plastic and fibre-based composite packaging formats, putting steel at an even greater disadvantage. The consequences extend beyond packaging competitiveness. This decision will have a damaging impact on the role the steel food can is able to play in supporting UK food security, national resilience and emergency preparedness, including the government’s own ‘Be Ready’ campaign.”
