Overview

• On June 27 the government set final charges under its Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, adding 9p to a standard wine bottle, 4p to a 330ml beer bottle and 11p to a bottle of spirits
• The levies apply to glass, aluminium, plastic, cardboard and wood, with heavier materials facing the highest fees under a weight-based model
• A government spokesman said the scheme will shift disposal costs to producers and generate more than £1 billion annually for local recycling services
• Industry bodies including the British Beer and Pub Association and Wine and Spirit Trade Association warn the charges unfairly penalise sustainable glass and could threaten jobs
• Critics argue the policy is ill-thought-out and may drive consumers toward cheaper packaging alternatives, undermining its environmental aims