Calls to reconsider new recycling taxes over ‘£60 added burden’ on families

New recycling taxes under ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ (EPR) is expected to add an extra £60 to every household’s annual shopping bill – the equivalent of 12 days of food and non-alcoholic drink for the lowest income families, the UK’s Food and Drink Federation said last week.

New laws forcing companies to pay to recycle every bit of their packaging are due to come into force in 2024. However, the Food and Drink Federation has called on the government to shelve the proposals for the time being.

“We need a best-in-class recycling and reuse system for food and drink packaging – one that’s affordable for shoppers, and which is also good for the environment. Right now, we’re on the brink of getting a system that’s neither,” said FDF Chief Executive Karen Betts.

“The priority for the next Prime Minister will be to address soaring inflation and the cost of living.  They must look at whether the government’s own actions are, in fact, adding to inflation.”

Betts added that food and drink manufacturers understand that they need to work with governments and consumers to protect the planet but there are efficient and cost-effective ways of doing so and new recycling schemes must be designed with that in mind.  

“Not in a way that’ll cause household bills to rise further and unnecessarily, as inflation soars,” she said, calling EPR an “ill-thought out” policy.

“So, whether it’s Rishi or Liz, we are urging the new PM to intervene urgently and cut the red tape on recycling – so working families can have a value for money system fit for the 21st century.”

Reacting to the claims, The Sun quoted a Defra spokesman said, “We don’t recognise these figures. Taxpayers already pay to get rid of packaging waste through their council tax bills. Under EPR, the companies who put packaging on the market pay instead. If they use less packaging, or make it easier to recycle, it will cost them less too.”