The last few weeks have been a real step up in events and engagements with an ever-growing range of sectors and representatives. This has, of course, included local authorities, but also the regulators in DEFRA and DESNZ, enforcement bodies, producers, and others. Even by local authority policy standards, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster of topics!
April saw the first of DEFRA’s Change Networks. Covering the North East region, in the impressive Durham Town Hall, around 40 local authority representatives from the region, DEFRA, DESNZ and the EA met and openly discussed the various challenges relating to the rollout of Simpler Recycling in England, Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for waste, and other regional barriers and opportunities in reaching Net Zero and recycling targets. A hugely positive, open and constructive day, and one we look forward to seeing replicated next week for the North West and Yorkshire and Humber authorities to Leeds on 12 May.
Events across the rest of England will follow over the coming weeks and months and we strongly encourage LARAC members to reach out their Regional Reps (or directly to admin@larac.org.uk) to find out when and where their meeting event will be.
In April, we also attended the Local Authority/Producer Summit – EPR Packaging Perspectives in London. A fantastic day that saw brands, producers and local authorities present the challenges of packaging choices, collection and disposal to one another, helping to bridge the understanding across the whole journey of production, use and disposal of packaging. A big thanks to ReLondon for organising what is hopefully the first of many such collaborative summits!
Wrapping up April was another trip to London for the Letsrecycle DRS Conference, which LARAC was pleased to support as partner. LARAC Chair Gareth Rollings presented local authority concerns and warned of the potential issues of assumed outcomes from the scheme. Whilst Exchange for Change and others involved in the rollout of the scheme presented, I think it’s fair to say there are still more questions than answers when it comes to the impact of the scheme for local authorities and how it will progress and succeed in general. This is not least true of Wales, with glass to be included without a deposit leading to a loss of pEPR and PRN obligations on the material.
We are also delighted to confirm that proposed changes to the Crime and Policing Bill 2026 have been withdrawn, as confirmed in Minister Creagh’s response to a letter from LARAC in April. The proposal would have seen a major increase in responsibility (and cost) placed on local authorities, requiring them to tackle fly-tipping across the country. The full letter and response can be found here.
So, as we head into summer, Leeds is the next stop for part 2 of the Change Network national tour, before we head over to Belfast and the Titanic Centre where I’ll be speaking at the CIWM Northern Ireland Waste and Resource Management Conference.
Hope to see some of you there!
