Packaging waste: Introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging – Summary of 2021 consultation responses and Government response
The consultation on the UK-wide introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) has concluded.
The second UK-wide consultation on Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) was launched in March 2021 in conjunction with the UK Government, Scottish Government and Welsh Government. It closed in June 2021 and 1,241 responses were received.
The consultation and Government Response can be viewed on the DAERA website at:
https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/consultations/packaging-waste-introduction-extended-producer-responsibility
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has ambitious goals to protect our climate, drive green growth and drive down unnecessary waste. Our plans for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) play a key part in delivering those goals.
The consultation proposed the implemention of EPR reforms for packaging from 2024. Following the announcement of a deferral to pEPR in July 2023, the reforms will now be implemented from 2025.
They will move the full cost of dealing with packaging waste from households away from local taxpayers and councils to the packaging producers (applying the "polluter pays principle"), giving producers responsibility for the costs of their packaging throughout its life cycle. This will encourage producers to reduce their use of packaging and use packaging which is easier to recycle.
A related consultation on Reforms to the Packaging Waste Recycling Note (PRN) and Packaging Waste Export Recycling Note (PERN) Systems and Operator Approval can be accessed via the following link: