Urgent action is needed to ensure that the cost of packaging waste that is littered is covered by the companies that produce it – not by local taxpayers, according to the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA).
The call comes as Keep Wales Tidy publishes its latest report, which highlights a concerning rise in litter and a drop in street cleanliness across Wales.
Councils say they share the public’s frustration – and that change is needed not only on the ground, but in how responsibility is shared.
The WLGA says that Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) – a UK-wide scheme that requires manufacturers to cover the environmental cost of dealing with their packaging – should be extended to cover litter, and is encouraging the Welsh and UK Governments to agree a position on this as soon as possible.
Under the scheme, producers are required to contribute to the cost of collecting, recycling, and disposing of packaging. The goal is to reduce the environmental impact of packaging, encourage better design, and ensure producers take more responsibility for what happens to their products after use.
Extending this to packaging that is littered would also mean that councils – and ultimately local taxpayers – are no longer left shouldering the financial burden of dealing with packaging litter. The funding could support not just clean-up operations, but also public awareness and behaviour change campaigns to prevent littering in the first place.
The WLGA is urging the Welsh Government to continue working with the UK Government to make sure the EPR system is introduced as soon as possible and works fairly for Wales.
Councils are also preparing for the proposed Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), which will place a value on items like bottles and cans to encourage people to return them rather than litter them.
Councillor Lis Burnett, WLGA spokesperson for Climate Change said:
“Councils work incredibly hard to keep our streets clean, but funding is stretched and the cost of dealing with litter keeps rising. Local people are doing their bit – and we see fantastic volunteers out every weekend picking up rubbish – but it’s time that packaging producers stepped up too.
“It’s also important to note that individuals also have a responsibility not to litter – encouraging people to use the bins provided or take their waste home is essential to tackling the problem at its source.
“This is about fairness. Local taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for the environmental impact of packaging they didn’t produce. The ‘polluter pays’ principle is widely supported – and it’s time to turn that principle into action.”