Regulatory affairs in the UK and overseas are shaping our industry and at Beyondly we endeavour to be the roots of action, informing businesses on their current and future requirements.
Below you will find an overview of relevant policy updates, with a library of resources to bring you up to speed.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is an approach in which producers are given significant/full responsibility (financial and/or physical) for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products.
Producer Responsibility or Extended Producer Responsibility approaches can apply to various types of products, such as packaging, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and batteries, all of which have Producer Responsibility regulations currently in the UK.
The packaging compliance regulations are being reformed from the current approach of Producer Responsibility to Extended Producer Responsibility often referred to as ‘EPR’.
Available Resources
Consultations on the WEEE and Batteries reform were originally expected to launch by the end of 2020 with changes to be implemented from January 2023. However, with the global pandemic this was delayed and the WEEE reform consultation is currently expected in 2023, with the Batteries reform consultation expected to follow this.
Available Resources
A Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers, is a type of extended producer responsibility (EPR) whereby producers are given a significant responsibility (financial and/or physical) for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products. In a DRS, a monetary deposit is put on the sale of beverages obligated under the scheme, which is refunded once the empty container is taken to a return point for recycling.
Scotland is introducing a separate DRS for drinks containers to the rest of the UK nations, however this has been delayed until October 2025 at the earliest. Containers in scope of Scottish DRS are: PET plastic, glass, steel and aluminium cans.
Legislation – The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020
Scheme Administrator website – Circularity Scotland Ltd
Guidance – Not for profit Zero Waste Scotland website
England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be introducing a joint DRS for drinks containers.
Containers in scope of England and Northern Ireland DRS are: PET plastic, steel, and aluminium cans.
Containers in scope of Wales DRS are: PET plastic, glass, steel & aluminium cans.
Consultation response – Introducing a DRS for drinks containers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 2021 consultation government response
Consultation response news story update by Emma Wilkinson - Government response on DRS for drinks containers
Available Resources
Increasing consistency in recycling will reduce confusion in the materials that can be collected for recycling at kerbside. Following on from the 2021 consultation, we are still waiting for a government response to this, which according to DEFRA is due imminently.
Available Resources
International environmental waste legislation and policies are different in every country, as countries look to adapt similar regulations to support in the global drive to move towards a circular economy.
Available Resources
Coming soon...
Beyondly is a leading government approved compliance scheme for waste packaging, WEEE and batteries
