The Government has delayed its flagship recycling reforms by a year as it considers a wider row back on its green policies.
The move means that moves to force manufacturers to cover the cost of recycling their packaging, called “Extended Producer Responsibility”, will not be introduced until 2025.
It comes as ministers are under pressure from some Conservative backbenchers to ditch or downsize some of its environmental policies in the wake of the Uxbridge by-election. Downing Street has confirmed ministers are scrutinising existing pledges “in light of some of the cost of living challenges”.
In a brief statement, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “There’s been a decision to defer extended producer responsibility for packaging fees for one year.
“This update reflects that, and also explains that other timescales have not changed - producers still have to report packaging data for 2023.”
Nina Schrank, plastics campaign lead at Greenpeace UK, said: “This is an utterly cynical move and yet another sign of the Government’s dismal environmental record.
“This isn’t about helping people struggling with the cost of living but simply letting big polluters off the hook.
“There’s overwhelming public support for cutting plastic waste yet the Government is willing to break a key manifesto promise to please plastic producers."
However, some industry leaders have said the move is the right step to prevent piling on further pressure on inflation and to get the implementation right.
Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury’s, said he welcomed the delay, saying: “This will provide the necessary time to work across our industry and with the Government in order to get EPR right first time.
“This decision is also an important step in minimising further pressure on food inflation and we will continue to focus on delivering the best value to customers in the coming months.”
Under the scheme, all food and drink packaging would be collected and recycled at the expense of the manufacturers.
Environment minister Rebecca Pow said: “We’re determined to transform the way we collect, recycle and reuse our waste materials so we eliminate all avoidable waste by 2050 in a way that works for households and consumers. That’s better for our environment.
“We are also listening to industry and ensuring our work to tackle inflation and to drive up recycling go hand in hand, to make sure our reforms will be a success."
