New recycling rules to reduce the cost of wine and beer in the UK
The government has announced updated recycling regulations to ensure restaurants, pubs and hospitality businesses get a fairer deal in disposing of packaging and waste.
Changes will cut double charging for recycling the same packaging, saving businesses up to 6p per beer bottle and 10p per wine bottle. For a pub selling 10,000 beer bottles and 3,700 wine bottles, this would save them up to £870 a year.
Glass drinks containers being sold directly from producers to pubs, restaurants, and other licensed hospitality venues will no longer be liable for Extended Producer Responsibility fees from April 2027.
Businesses will also be consulted on fees they pay for packaging waste, so that easy-to-recycle packaging like glass and paper cost less and hard-to-recycle packaging such as some plastics costs more. This could help reduce fees for the most recyclable packaging by up to 40% per year, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said.
Separately, the independent Trade Remedies Authority is undertaking two investigations on imports of glass containers. This includes a dumping investigation on Chinese-origin imports and a subsidy investigation on Turkish-origin imports.
Following a recommendation made by the Trade Remedies Authority, a provisional anti-dumping measure on Chinese imports was imposed on 9 September. Both investigations remain ongoing.
“We’ve listened to industry and hospitality businesses and are stepping in to reduce the fees for the most recyclable packaging – including tackling double charging on glass bought by pubs.,” said Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle.
“This government is committed to supporting British business and these changes back the glass industry and pubs while making sure we’re all doing our bit to reduce waste.”
The government added that further measures to support businesses are in the pipeline
Next month, a call for evidence will be launched to explore ways more businesses can reuse packaging on greater scales – helping reduce waste and plastic.
In early 2027, PackUK will also launch a call-for-evidence on fees manufacturers pay for packaging waste – to ensure easy-to-recycle packaging costs less.
