This briefing provides an overview of the revised packaging extended producer responsibility (pEPR) scheme and fees.

This briefing provides an overview of the revised packaging extended producer responsibility (pEPR) scheme and fees.

From October 2027, it will be possible for some drink containers to be recycled in exchange for money, as part of the UK’s new deposit return schemes (DRSs).

From October 2027, it will be possible for some drink containers to be recycled in exchange for money, as part of the UK’s new deposit return schemes (DRSs).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the financial impact of Extended Producer Responsibility fees on the hospitality sector; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allocating a proportion of that funding to support...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the financial impact of Extended Producer Responsibility fees on the hospitality sector; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allocating a proportion of that funding to support...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has held with the Welsh Government on the differentiation of identical glass containers in scope of the Deposit Return Scheme in Wales and Extended Producer Responsibility in the UK from 1 October 2027.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has held with the Welsh Government on the differentiation of identical glass containers in scope of the Deposit Return Scheme in Wales and Extended Producer Responsibility in the UK from 1 October 2027.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the cost of expanding bring banks for glass recycling.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the cost of expanding bring banks for glass recycling.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when she last met with representatives of the glass sector to discuss the Deposit Return Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when she last met with representatives of the glass sector to discuss the Deposit Return Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to correspondence reference MC2026/09208/NA, what assessment he has made of the potential impact pEPR rules being for glass distributors on (a) costs to consumers and (b) levels of plastic packaging by those distributors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to correspondence reference MC2026/09208/NA, what assessment he has made of the potential impact pEPR rules being for glass distributors on (a) costs to consumers and (b) levels of plastic packaging by those distributors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish a comparative analysis of glass packaging Extended Producer Responsibility fees in other advanced economies, including any measures taken to prevent disproportionate costs for the beer and pub sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish a comparative analysis of glass packaging Extended Producer Responsibility fees in other advanced economies, including any measures taken to prevent disproportionate costs for the beer and pub sector.

Last week, this House debated extended producer responsibility, and I was pleased to grill the Minister on the impact it is having on brewers, such as Asahi in Woking. Will the Minister explain why EPR costs so much more in this country than in Europe, and agree to publish the results of the Government’s pilot projects in councils such as Fife?

Last week, this House debated extended producer responsibility, and I was pleased to grill the Minister on the impact it is having on brewers, such as Asahi in Woking. Will the Minister explain why EPR costs so much more in this country than in Europe, and agree to publish the results of the Government’s pilot projects in councils such as Fife?

Our waste collection systems are completely different from those in Germany and France, where they have a wide network of bring banks for glass. We have the privilege of having glass collected in our household waste collection schemes. I am conscious of the dual burden that is falling on pubs, and I have tasked my officials with working at pace on the issue to find a solution for the pubs that we are all enjoying in this hot weather, with the great football. I wish England the best for their match at the weekend.

Our waste collection systems are completely different from those in Germany and France, where they have a wide network of bring banks for glass. We have the privilege of having glass collected in our household waste collection schemes. I am conscious of the dual burden that is falling on pubs, and I have tasked my officials with working at pace on the issue to find a solution for the pubs that we are all enjoying in this hot weather, with the great football. I wish England the best for their match at the weekend.

Last night this House debated the extended producer responsibility, which is seeing breweries, pubs and other businesses pay twice to recycle glass bottles. What meetings has the Department for Business and Trade had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to raise the economically damaging nature of this tax? If it has not raised concerns, will it?

Last night this House debated the extended producer responsibility, which is seeing breweries, pubs and other businesses pay twice to recycle glass bottles. What meetings has the Department for Business and Trade had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to raise the economically damaging nature of this tax? If it has not raised concerns, will it?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are having conversations with DEFRA over these issues. We want to ensure that regulation is right. We need to incentivise the right behaviour and the circular economy, but we need to do so in a responsible way. We are always engaged with the sectors that are impacted, not just because of regulatory measures but because of external measures facing our economy.

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are having conversations with DEFRA over these issues. We want to ensure that regulation is right. We need to incentivise the right behaviour and the circular economy, but we need to do so in a responsible way. We are always engaged with the sectors that are impacted, not just because of regulatory measures but because of external measures facing our economy.

Agreed to on question.

Agreed to on question.

I am very grateful that you have granted tonight’s debate, Madam Deputy Speaker, and that we have so much time to discuss this important issue.

Packaging extended producer responsibility, which I will call EPR, is a policy that genuinely has a laudable goal: the move towards a circular economy, in which...

I am very grateful that you have granted tonight’s debate, Madam Deputy Speaker, and that we have so much time to discuss this important issue.

Packaging extended producer responsibility, which I will call EPR, is a policy that genuinely has a laudable goal: the move towards a circular economy, in which...

I appreciate the hon. Lady giving way so early in her speech, because I have to run to a Delegated Legislation Committee. I agree with all the points she is making, but would she talk later about the impact on the pub trade? This policy will hit the pub trade...

I appreciate the hon. Lady giving way so early in her speech, because I have to run to a Delegated Legislation Committee. I agree with all the points she is making, but would she talk later about the impact on the pub trade? This policy will hit the pub trade...

I will indeed be talking about the pub industry. I thank all the Members who have been campaigning so hard on this particular point for the last two years. The hon. Member will need to read the speech afterwards—it will be brilliant. We will try to protect our hospitality industry.

While...

I will indeed be talking about the pub industry. I thank all the Members who have been campaigning so hard on this particular point for the last two years. The hon. Member will need to read the speech afterwards—it will be brilliant. We will try to protect our hospitality industry.

While...

A plethora of interventions, but I have to go to the sister at the back first.

A plethora of interventions, but I have to go to the sister at the back first.

In my constituency, I also have a phenomenal glass manufacturer, called Encirc. It has three sites across the UK, employing over 2,000 people. It is unfairly penalised by this tax, because it is about weight. As the hon. Lady has pointed out, this is encouraging manufacturers of things like tonic...

In my constituency, I also have a phenomenal glass manufacturer, called Encirc. It has three sites across the UK, employing over 2,000 people. It is unfairly penalised by this tax, because it is about weight. As the hon. Lady has pointed out, this is encouraging manufacturers of things like tonic...