Rotherham MP welcomes packaging fee changes after fight to protect glass industry
Rotherham MP Sarah Champion has campaigned for changes to the scheme to protect the glass industry, including Beatson Clark, which has manufactured glass packaging in her constituency for 275 years.
Packaging charges aimed at protecting glass manufacturers have been welcomed by Rotherham MP Sarah Champion after a two-year campaign.
Emma Hardy, Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has introduced a series of measures to protect the glass industry from a new policy designed to hold producers responsible for packaging costs.
The Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme will make producers responsible for the full costs of collecting, recycling and managing household packaging waste once it reaches post consumer stage.
The government hopes that the new legislation will see base fees for the least recyclable packaging doubled, with the additional funds used to discount recyclable packaging.
Rotherham MP Sarah Champion has campaigned for changes to the scheme to protect the glass industry, including Beatson Clark, which has manufactured glass packaging in her constituency for 275 years.
Ms Champion has previously raised concerns in Parliament that the scheme could serious harm to UK businesses and will encourage switching to less recyclable, more environmentally harmful products.
"I want Beatson Clark to be providing good jobs in our region for another three centuries," she said.
"Today’s announcement is the culmination of more than two years of work, and I am hugely proud to have helped to deliver this outcome for our glass manufacturers.
"It was never right that policies intended to encourage wider recycling were forcing businesses to reverse course away from sustainable alternatives to plastic.
"I will of course be carefully considering the Government’s proposals and won’t be stepping away from the fight until the future of UK, and especially Rotherham, glass is secured”