The Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA) has responded to the publication of the base fees for packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

The UK government unveiled the first year fees that manufacturers will face and will come into effect in October.

The fees paid, calculated by tonne, will cover the cost of PackUK, the EPR scheme administrator, and provide local authorities with additional income to cover the cost of recycling and disposing of materials.

Jason Galley, director and chief executive of the MPMA, said “The final packaging EPR base fees are a step in the right direction with encouraging reductions for aluminium and steel which better value their contribution to the circular economy. 

“However, individual fees for metal packaging should not be looked at in isolation but rather in comparison with all materials. Fundamentally the disparity remains when the base fees are translated into real-life product packaging, resulting in the financial incentive to switch to lighter-weight yet harder-to-recycle materials.

“Despite the amendments to the base fees, the unique role of metal to support UK circular economy goals is still undervalued within the EPR scheme and businesses making the most circular, highly-recycled packaging are under threat.

“While we are pleased that MPMA’s evidence has been sensibly evaluated by Defra, we believe metal packaging within the UK EPR scheme should be closely aligned with European schemes where steel and aluminium base fees are significantly lower compared to lighter-weight, less-recycled materials.

“We believe there is the opportunity to make packaging EPR a showcase piece of legislation. We will continue to work with Defra and PackUK to bring the facts to the table in support of the country’s circularity goals.”