Agenda item

Jamie Henderson (Cabinet Member for Environment, Coastal Regeneration and Public Health), Helen Shulver (Assistant Director Resource Management and Circular Economy) were in attendance for the item

1. The Cabinet Member introduced the report and discussed the following:

a)     Provided Members with an update on the national waste reforms and their implications for Kent County Council’s waste disposal function. Members were advised that the report focused on Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (PEPR), the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and the future implications of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

b)     Members were informed that PEPR had already generated significant additional funding for local authorities. The Committee noted that Kent County Council had received £13.3 million during 2025/26 and had been allocated £11.6million for 2026/27, with future allocations continuing to be dependent upon national funding methodologies and scheme development

c)    The Cabinet Member advised that the DRS would be introduced nationally in October 2027 and would focus on collecting plastic drinks bottles and metal beverage cans through a dedicated producer-funded collection system. While the scheme was expected to reduce the amount of material entering Kent’s municipal waste stream, Members were advised that it could also reduce income generated from the sale and processing of recyclable materials currently managed through local authority contracts.

d)    The committee heard that the ETS continued to represent a potential future financial pressure for waste disposal authorities. Officers explained that, although the UK ETS Authority had recently confirmed that waste incineration would not be brought into the scheme from January 2028 as previously anticipated, the policy remained under development and could still create significant future cost pressures associated with Energy from Waste facilities.

e)     Members noted that Kent County Council and the Kent Resource Partnership were continuing to prepare for future legislative changes through service planning, financial modelling, behavioural change campaigns and partnership working to increase recycling rates, reduce residual waste and improve resource efficiency.

2.Members raised the following points

a)    Members discussed the operation of the forthcoming DRS and queried whether there would be opportunities for local authorities to benefit from the collection of deposit-return materials. It was suggested that containers returned to retailers through collection machines could potentially be incorporated into local authority recycling arrangements rather than relying entirely on separate collection networks. Officers advised that discussions on this issue were ongoing nationally through local authority and government engagement channels. Members were informed that the issue had been raised through the Kent Resource Partnership and with Defra.

b)    Questions were raised regarding whether glass bottles would be included within the DRS. Officers clarified that the current proposals related only to PET plastic bottles and metal drinks cans and did not include glass containers. Glass containers continue to be collected through all kerbside waste collection services for households.

c)    The committee welcomed initiatives that sought to encourage the return and recycling of drinks containers and discussed the wider opportunity presented by producer responsibility measures to encourage more sustainable packaging design and improved environmental outcomes. Officers highlighted that EPR would increasingly place financial pressure on producers to consider recyclability and sustainability when designing packaging.

d)    Members raised the need for additional recycling infrastructure and discussed concerns about the future management of waste processing capacity, including materials recovery facilities and the handling of appliances such as refrigerators and freezers. Officers advised that market challenges continued to exist nationally but confirmed that Kent had not been required to refuse household refrigeration items at its Household Waste Recycling Centres. Members were informed that work continued with partners and contractors to manage capacity requirements and ensure appropriate disposal arrangements remained available.

e)    Discussion took place regarding the importance of minimising the amount of waste sent for disposal through Energy from Waste facilities and increasing levels of reuse, recycling and recovery. Officers advised that reducing residual waste remained a key priority and that future reforms would continue to incentivise recycling and resource efficiency across Kent.

f)      The Committee welcomed the progress made through the Packaging EPR scheme and recognised the significant financial and operational implications associated with the forthcoming DRS and future emissions trading scheme arrangements. Members further acknowledged the importance of continuing to improve recycling performance and reduce residual waste across Kent.

RESOLVED to note the Extended Producer Responsibility Activity and Updates Report.