Recent discussion of new extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations for packaging waste has centred on how such proposals may impact producers of plastics and other packaging waste when the scheme is introduced in 2023. However, the conclusion of Defra’s consultation on the new EPR proposals highlights that waste companies are equally important participants in the new regime – if not as producers, then as administrators, collection agents and, ultimately, the recyclers of such packaging.

The consultation proposes setting specific recycling targets for six packaging materials (including plastics and card), aiming for an overall recycling rate of 73% by 2030, and 56% for plastics. Given that, in 2018, only 43.8% of all plastic packaging was recycled, a significant increase in recycling efforts will need to occur for this ambitious target to be met and waste companies will be a key part of facilitating this. Though expensive, waste companies should be encouraged to look into preparing their businesses to meet these new challenges. It will pay dividends when the EPR scheme goes live in 2023 and, perhaps more importantly, for future generations to come.

In this article for Circular magazine, Dentons trainee Vincent Leung explains how businesses should prepare for the new challenges posed by EPR obligations for packaging waste.

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Reproduced by kind permission of CIWM and CIWM Enterprises Ltd and originally featured in Circular, September/October 2021. Visit here for the latest industry news and opinions and to sample an issue of Circular.