The Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s (IPA) Annual Report on Major Projects has claimed that the successful implementation of Defra’s Collection and Packaging waste reforms seems ‘unachievable’ by 2027.
The IPA’s annual report, in which each government department outlines detailed information on the progress of the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), gave the waste reforms a ‘red’ ranking. This indicates that ‘successful delivery of the project seems unachievable’ by the timescale of the year 2027.
More specifically, the red category indicates major issues with ‘project definition, schedule, budget and/or benefits delivery, which at this stage do not appear to be manageable or resolvable’.
The GMPP comprises the most innovative and high-risk projects delivered by the UK government with programmes typically requiring approval from HM Treasury due to costs and scale.
What are the waste reforms?
The Collection and Packaging reforms include three major projects: Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR), Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers (DRS) and Consistency in Recycling Collection (consistency).
This news follows the announcement earlier this year that the Scottish government would be delaying its DRS until October 2025, with important questions remaining on whether any of the schemes across the UK will include glass.
Defra has also announced this morning (25 July) the delay of pEPR from October 2024 to October 2025.
Having closed its consultation on consistency in household and business recycling in England in July 2021, Defra is yet to release a response. It was last delayed to ‘after the local elections’ which occurred in May this year.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister of State at the cabinet office, acknowledged the role of inflation in creating obstacles for many of the programmes on the GMPP: “It has undoubtedly brought about challenges in terms of delivering to plan and to budget, for both government and industry.”
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.