LARAC welcomes the new Labour government and urges it to prioritise and address critical waste management reforms as part of its policy agenda following their landslide general election victory on 4 July.
Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR)
LARAC firmly supports the principle of packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR), which mandates that packaging producers take full financial responsibility for the lifecycle of their products. This includes collecting, sorting, and recycling packaging materials, encouraging sustainable product design, and reducing environmental impact. However, delays in implementing pEPR have left local authorities in limbo, unable to adequately plan and budget for necessary service changes.
LARAC calls for:
- Timely clarification on the definitions of “efficient and effective” processes for local authorities to comply with pEPR.
- Assurance that pEPR funding will be additional and not reduce existing central government funding for local services.
- Supportive, not punitive, improvement plans to ensure effective compliance.
Simpler Recycling in England
LARAC advocates for consistent materials collected across local authorities while allowing for local flexibility in service delivery. The previous government’s proposal for fortnightly residual waste collections (and the encouragement for even less frequent) contradicts the majority consultation response and undermines the goals of Simpler Recycling reforms. Evidence shows that extending the interval between residual waste collections enhances recycling rates, reduces household waste volumes, and saves money for local authorities, aligning with efforts to meet net zero carbon targets.
LARAC urges the new government to:
- Reconsider the stance on residual waste collection frequencies in England to support waste hierarchy principles.
- Recognise the importance of longer intervals for residual waste collections in achieving recycling targets and reducing overall waste across the UK.
- Implement a national campaign to communicate the changes relating to Simpler Recycling to households, businesses and non-household municipals.
Deposit Return Schemes (DRS)
Whilst LARAC acknowledges the potential benefits of Deposit Return Schemes, we advocate for delaying DRS implementation until after pEPR and Simpler Recycling reforms are fully operational and assessed. The current decision to delay DRS until October 2027 leaves a funding gap for local authorities managing DRS materials starting from the commencement of pEPR in April 2025.
LARAC highlights the need for:
- Delaying DRS until pEPR and Simpler Recycling are fully operational.
- Interim funding solutions to manage DRS materials until full integration with the pEPR scheme.
- Transparent processes for local authorities to manage and reintegrate materials in scope of DRS without incurring additional, uncompensated costs once these are collected via DRS infrastructure.
Funding, Incentives and Support for Local Authorities
Successful implementation of these reforms requires adequate funding and resources. LARAC stresses the importance of financial support from central government to cover transition costs, public education campaigns, and infrastructure upgrades necessary for new collection systems. The correct mechanisms must also be used to incentivise the changes required to minimise waste and decarbonise the sector.
Engagement with the New Government
LARAC could not find much evidence of Labour’s stance on policies relating to the waste and resources sector in their manifesto. Despite reaching out to Labour a few weeks ago outlining our position on key reforms and asking for its views, we have yet to hear back. However, we are keen to engage with the new government as we progress.
Looking Forward
LARAC seeks to engage with the new government to understand its stance on these crucial policy areas. We are eager to discuss how the new administration plans to support EPR principles, drive consistency in types of material collected, implement DRS effectively, and provide local authorities with the necessary funding and incentives.
LARAC Chair Cathy Cook states, “We look forward to collaborating with the new government to enhance the effectiveness of waste collection and recycling systems in the UK. It is imperative that we work together to achieve our collective environmental goals.”
For media inquiries, please contact Toni McNamara, LARAC Policy and Communications Lead - admin@larac.org.uk
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