UK hospitality sector urges delay and rethink of EPR policy over cost concerns

Leaders in the UK hospitality industry have raised serious concerns about the financial implications of the government’s proposed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, calling for at least a one-year postponement to its implementation.

A coalition of key trade bodies, including UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association, has written to the Prime Minister and Chancellor warning that the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has not adequately assessed the potential economic consequences of the EPR scheme on the sector’s investment and growth.

Under the proposed EPR framework, businesses placing packaging on the UK market would be required to cover the full cost of its disposal and recycling. However, industry representatives argue that this could lead to unintended double charges for hospitality businesses—particularly where packaging never enters the household waste stream.

One of the main issues raised relates to the classification of certain items, such as beer and wine bottles, which are often consumed entirely on premises. Despite this, the packaging is treated as household waste under the EPR model, meaning producers could pass on new fees to hospitality venues—on top of what those businesses already pay for their own commercial waste services.

The coalition has also expressed concerns about the structure of proposed fees, particularly those relating to glass. Industry figures claim that the high cost allocated to glass packaging could incentivise a shift towards plastic alternatives, despite the comparatively strong recycling performance of glass in the UK.

Overall, industry leaders have urged the government to intervene and ensure Defra addresses what they describe as “deprioritised” issues before proceeding with the rollout. They warn that, without urgent action, the EPR scheme in its current form could place considerable financial strain on hospitality businesses and risk undermining environmental objectives.