Councils have urged ministers to reconsider the decision to slash anticipated charges for packaging producers under forthcoming waste reforms.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said the government must “ensure” that fees under the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme “meet the full costs” of refuse disposal.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs this month published revised “illustrative base fees” for 2025/26 under the controversial incoming rules.
But despite the estimated cost of putting packaging on the market falling by up to £115 per tonne under the latest figures, some manufacturers called for further cuts.
Now the LGA has published fresh research, conducted with the County Councils Network (CCN) and District Councils Network, showing that more than 2 million tonnes of packaging was thrown into residual-waste bins last year.
Local authorities called for clearer labelling, investment in local awareness programmes and heftier charges to producers.
LGA environment spokesperson Adam Hug said: “It is crucial that the costs are met, that councils continue to lead local waste and recycling services, and that the focus is on reducing unnecessary waste in the first place.”
Richard Clewer, infrastructure and planning spokesperson for the CCN, added: “The government must ensure that recyclable waste that is placed into incorrect bins is taken into consideration when calculating the amount that councils will get paid through the EPR scheme.”
