All set for Christmas…?
With Christmas fast approaching, environmental services directorates at councils up and down the UK should be geared up to manage the seasonal spike in waste management as well as the alterations to collection rounds and the subsequent logistics and processing that is required to accommodate public holidays.
One would hope that increased awareness of the impact of waste and the increased cost of just about everything would act as a mechanism that reduces demand on waste management. However, many residents still have the attitude that it’s ‘time for a big blow out as, after all, it is Christmas.’
Consequently, there’s no room for complacency, and by now, local authority waste management planning for Christmas should all be in hand with everything in place, orchestrated and ready to roll for smooth operations over the festive season.
The UK’s years of waiting for EPR are finally over!
In 2025 one of the major legislative changes that is going to impact municipal waste management is the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This long awaited scheme is enthusiastically anticipated by some, as the UK appears to be a bit of a laggard.
Across the EU, including The Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria, EPR schemes are in place. Germany has had a scheme in place since the early 1990s. India introduced the concept of EPR in 2011, and although now on hold, Russia launched a scheme in 2015.
To others though, EPR is likely to be a source of dread. One of the reasons for this is the complexity of the transition. Navigating the changes and managing EPR has created a waste management sub-sector, almost a mini industry all of its own.
Data collection has been in place since March 2023, helping to debug the reporting process and inform fee calculations. Reporting has been required since January 2024. Rather like corporation tax for businesses, the fees for any given year paid by producers are due the following year.
Consequently, the first EPR bills – the fees for the 2025/26 assessment year – are based on 2024 data reporting. The fees for the first year are not modulated, meaning the fee is calculated using a ‘base fee’ for the seven packaging materials categories – plastic, paper/card, glass, steel, aluminium, wood, and other. Base fees reflect the average handling and recycling costs of each material type.
Based on more granular reporting from the 2025/26 reporting period, in 2026/27 modulated fees are calculated based on the recyclability of packaging materials. For example, rather than just referencing the base fee for plastic, modulated fees draw a distinction between PVC and PET plastic. Materials with higher recyclability attract lower costs, while less recyclable materials invite higher costs. Ultimately, this is intended to provide producers with a financial incentive to make their packaging more recyclable.
Is EPR going to pay for more sophisticated recycling?
For LAs the central question is whether the revenue generated by EPR is going to pay for the increased costs of Simpler Recycling collections, greater volumes and more sophisticated processing.
Early information on the sums that might be generated by EPR was very limited and provided no indication into the revenues that LAs might see. A broad statement suggested that all UK producers would be likely to see an increase of £1.4bn under EPR compared to the previous Packaging Waste Regulations system.
However, in August and September 2024 Defra provided low, medium and high estimates for the first release of base fees for each recyclable stream.
Second Release of Illustrative Base Fees for 2025 to 2026
| Packaging Material | Low Estimate (£/tonne) | Medium Estimate (£/tonne) | High Estimate (£/tonne) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | £320 | £405 | £605 |
| Fibre composites | £355 | £450 | £565 |
| Glass | £110 | £205 | £240 |
| Paper or board | £135 | £190 | £250 |
| Plastic | £360 | £425 | £520 |
| Steel | £220 | £265 | £330 |
| Wood | £145 | £240 | £340 |
| Other | £180 | £265 | £330 |
With only this information to work with at this time, the question of whether EPR is going to pay is not an easy question to answer. The accuracy of any calculations is subject to enormous variability.
Central government is currently in the process of refining the maths. Local authority costs are calculated using data associated with each household packaging waste material and the total weight of each stream processed. As producers continue to report in line with the requirements, Defra states it will use the data, and any refined local authority cost estimates, to update illustrative base fees in the new year.
Meet your Simpler Recycling logistical challenges with Whitespace
With Simpler Recycling essentially providing the ‘front end’, resident-facing side of EPR, the need for smart solutions for planning and managing collection rounds across the seven waste streams has never been greater.
Whether it’s in-cab technology, waste vehicle fleet management, or agile collection round management, Whitespace solutions enable local authorities and their waste management partners to maximise efficiency.
Whitespace is the UK’s partner of choice for technology solutions that address the logistical problems of waste management. To find out more about Whitespace Municipal Waste Management solutions, please get in touch by calling us on +44 (0)1483 231 650 or emailing us at info@whitespacews.com.