LARAC welcomes the Chancellor’s announcement of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) funding for local authorities, with an additional £1.1 billion expected in 2025/26.It is reassuring that the Treasury has committed to a “top-up” should EPR revenue fall short of projections. This guarantee gives local authorities confidence in planning budgets and delivering essential waste and recycling services for 2025-26.
However, further details are still needed. Local authorities require timely confirmation of their EPR allocations and need assurance that these fees will cover the actual costs of waste and recycling services. It is also vital to ensure that this funding remains dedicated to waste and recycling services and will not be reallocated or offset by reductions in other government funding for local authorities, including capital funding, in the coming years.
In addition to EPR funding, we look forward to more detail on allocating the £50 million outlined for research and development to advance net-zero goals. A clear breakdown of these resources is essential for councils to effectively align their environmental efforts with national targets.
Looking beyond the immediate financial year, LARAC will continue to advocate for a funding model that fully supports the actual costs of waste and recycling services. This approach will allow local authorities to plan and deliver services that drive the zero waste and environmental goals central to the government’s wider agenda.
For further information please contact Toni McNamara, Executive Director, LARAC, on 01982 382 650 / admin@larac.org.uk.
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