Producers must bear the costs of processing waste packaging
Good packaging is essential for keeping products fresh and intact, and producers are doing more to reduce waste and support recycling.
But everybody can see the levels of waste, across our shop shelves, delivered to our homes, and into our bins.
In 2023, households across England generated a staggering 5.6 million tonnes of packaging waste, according to a recent study from the LGA, County Councils Network, and District Councils’ Network.
The analysis reveals that a substantial amount of this waste – 3.2 million tonnes – was sorted into recycling bins, while 2.3 million tonnes ended up in general or ‘black bin’ waste, and an additional 70,000 tonnes was incorrectly placed in food waste bins.
As local government gathered to discuss solutions to waste management challenges at the LGA’s annual conference in Harrogate last month, the findings highlighted an urgent need for waste system reforms and raised questions about industry accountability for packaging waste.
The growing waste problem has become a significant concern for local authorities, especially as recyclable waste that goes in the wrong bins costs councils more to treat and also creates more emissions.
The LGA has called on the Government to take two critical actions: reduce excessive packaging at its source; and ensure that the upcoming ‘extended producer responsibility’ (pEPR) scheme for packaging fully covers the cost of managing packaging waste.
Set to take effect in 2026, the pEPR scheme aims to shift the financial responsibility for waste disposal from councils to packaging producers.
This is in line with what our residents want, according to YouGov polling commissioned by the LGA, which found that the public is 12 times more likely to think costs in reducing packaging should be met by companies producing it (48 per cent) rather than councils dealing with it (4 per cent).
Additionally, 85 per cent of people think firms should be required by government to reduce the amount of packaging used.
“The LGA will continue to lobby for reforms that address the realities of waste management”
The Government recently reduced the fees facing the packaging industry – by 33 per cent for glass, 27 per cent for paper and card, and 17 per cent for plastics. The LGA has called for it to review this decision.
Councils stand firm on the need for the Government’s pEPR reforms to cover the actual costs of managing local waste and recycling services fully, rather than relying on rough calculations that may underestimate the financial burden.
In last month’s Budget, the Government announced that pEPR funding will be treated as ‘additional’ income in 2025/26, which is separate to the local government finance settlement. This is something we have long campaigned for and we look forward to seeing further details with December’s provisional settlement.
However, meeting the costs associated with packaging waste is only one part of the solution.
Achieving a zero-waste society will require meaningful investments in waste reduction programmes, robust legislative support and a renewed focus on reducing waste at its source.
The LGA will continue to lobby for reforms that address the realities of waste management and move the country closer to a sustainable, zero-waste future.
In the meantime, clarity in labelling and stronger industry accountability remain immediate priorities to curb mismanaged waste, lower emissions, and relieve councils of unsustainable costs.
- See www.local.gov.uk/climate-environment-and-waste for more on the LGA’s work in this area.
