Written question asked by Joe Robertson (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 May 2025. It was answered by Mary Creagh (Labour) on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Beverage Containers: Recycling

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether beverage industry manufacturers will be required to pay the Extended Producer Responsibility levy if they sell their products in the on-trade market with proof from the vendor of a non-council-funded recycling scheme.

Answer: The current regulations do not allow for this. This is because there are real challenges in effectively applying and compliance monitoring such an exemption across all sectors and producer types, resulting in a significant risk of misreporting and fraud. Government however recognises the strong views of stakeholders and is looking again at the household packaging definition. A new period of stakeholder engagement on this issue will commence shortly.

Secondary information