Head of the EPR scheme administrator, Margaret Bates, said yesterday that Defra hopes the change will allow for the UK to align better with Europe and allow future cross-European labelling.
LARAC has said that one of the biggest challenges local authorities face in improving recycling is helping citizens understand which packaging can and cannot be recycled.
It added that “without clear labelling, the general public are less likely to dispose of packaging correctly, decreasing the volume and quality of recyclate”. The committee said that it fears this will be exasperated in England and Northern Ireland where local authorities “lack sufficient enforcement powers to drive positive behaviour changes in waste disposal”.
Cathy Cook, LARAC chair, commented on the decision: “Mandatory and consistent labelling is essential for the success of the Collection and Packaging Reforms (CPR), and whilst this decision has been labelled as ‘temporary’, LARAC strongly encourages Defra to set a definitive timescale for its introduction and provide guidance of best practice for the interim period. LARAC would also like to see confirmation that labelling requirements will be consistent across the four UK nations.
“It is positive, however, to hear from Defra that the introduction of EPR legislation from January 2025 is on track to come into force as planned.”
Confusion around labelling
LARAC is concerned that the confusion the general public already experiences will be compounded by the lack of mandatory labelling with no agreed standard in place.
It added that this will make it more difficult for local authorities to meet the “yet-to-be-determined” and clarified “Efficient and Effective” requirements placed on them under the incoming EPR legislation.
To learn more about EPR and its changes, make sure you attend the EPR Conference on 14 November at the IET in London. See the growing agenda and book your tickets here.
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