But, an expected third consultation on consistency in recycling and waste collections within local authorities has been delayed. This was to contain proposals including for free green waste collections and mandatory food waste services. Its delay is already being seen by some as likely to hamper discussion of the EPR consultation as it links with consistency and how materials are collected.
EPR will be a joint consultation by the four governments with responsibility for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
For the Deposit Return Scheme consultations, it will be by Defra for England and separately by the Welsh Government for Wales as well as the Northern Ireland devolved legislature for Northern Ireland.
4 June
Stakeholders have been given until 4 June to respond under a ten-and-a-half week consultation period.
The EPR consultations aims to see a transformation of the current system which is based on the PRN – packaging waste recovery note – with Defra officials producing proposals to make producers (primarily brand owners) meet the full net costs of recycling. The current PRN system only accounts for a smaller amount of the costs. Much of the money will go towards local authority recycling schemes and a new central body will be set up either on a large or small scale.
Subscribe for free