Will the Government’s proposed EPR Regulations increase costs to the consumer?

NORTH SOMERSET MP, DR LIAM FOX VISITS WILTSHIRE FARM FOODS AND DISCUSSES GOVERNMENTS’ PROPOSED PACKAGING REGULATIONS

At a visit to the home meals delivery company, Wiltshire Farm Foods’ Portbury depot (28.4.23), North Somerset MP, Dr Liam Fox, listened to concerns shared by the company that consumers will be bearing the brunt of pending legislation with increased costs, at a time when they can ill afford it, and agreed the Government should review the proposals before it is too late.

The UK government plans to introduce new regulations for what is called “extended producer responsibility” (EPR), to tackle the growing problem of packaging waste. These regulations aim to shift the waste and recycling costs of packaging from local authorities to the businesses that produce it - a principle that industry is supportive of.

However, Wiltshire Farm Foods, along with the food industry at large, is saying that the government has not thought through the proposed regulations properly and it has significant concerns about some unjustifiable omissions. Not least, that there is no recognition of responsible businesses that have invested large amounts in future-looking systems that improve rates of re-use and recycling. These businesses will in effect, be paying twice, a price which ultimately will be paid for by the consumer.

[Pictured – Left to right): Lee Sheppard (Director of Policy, apetito), Dr Liam Fox MP for North Somerset, Phil Truman, (Operations Manager, Wiltshire Farm Foods).