Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the impact on businesses of the increase in price of Packaging Recycling Notes; and if he will make a statement.
I understand the challenges the increase in glass re-melt Packaging Recovery pose for some businesses. We have had discussions with industry and regulators to understand the reasons for the increase and to understand their implications. As the UK operates a market-based system, price fluctuations are expected when there are supply issues – with the increased value motivating more activity by operators, and consequently increased reprocessing. This in turn makes it easier to meet recycling targets and so prices will be driven back down, which was the situation at the end of 2021.