A coalition of prominent trade associations, including British Glass, the Scotch Whisky Association, and UKHospitality, has formally addressed Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, ahead of the upcoming announcement on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) base fees. Their letter voices serious concerns about the current design of the EPR scheme and its disproportionate financial impact on the glass industry.
Disproportionate Costs Threaten Glass Sector
Although glass containers represent only 5% of the total volume of packaging placed on the UK market, the industry faces an estimated 30% share of the scheme’s overall cost. This imbalance risks encouraging producers to switch to less recyclable materials, contradicting the scheme’s core objective of fostering a circular economy.
Calls for Fairness and Efficiency in Waste Management 
The associations urge urgent reforms to prevent “double counting” of packaging waste costs, which unfairly penalize producers. They also emphasize the need for clear collection targets and incentives for Local Authorities to enhance waste collection and processing infrastructure. These steps, they argue, are essential for improving recyclability and advancing the UK’s circular economy goals, ensuring glass remains a sustainable, recyclable material vital to the industry’s future.
Source: British Glass with additional information added by Glass Balkan
