The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) has announced its submission to the Government consultation on expanding the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

While the committee has voiced its support for including the waste sector within the ETS, its response highlights some of the possible pressures that could burden local authorities once the scheme is in place in 2028.

LARAC’s submission noted the existing pressures local authorities currently face, including limited enforcement powers over residents’ waste and recycling behaviours and increased requirements to deal with higher volumes of waste.  

An ineffective ETS scheme, according to LARAC, could result in financial burdens on local authorities and an increased use of domestic landfill or Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) export. LARAC’s chair, Cathy Cook, said:

It is crucial that the financial burden does not directly or otherwise, fall onto local authorities who are already under significant financial pressures and have limited mitigation opportunities.

To help safeguard local authorities, LARAC has recommended:

• Relevant ETS costs are covered by Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Incentivising producers to reduce the plastic content of their packaging will support decarbonisation in the UK
• New Burden Funding: Additional funding to cover increased costs due to the ETS must be offered to Local Authorities
• Successful implementation of the Collection and Packaging Reforms (CPR): If expansion of ETs is to happen by 2028, CPR must take place to current timelines
• Expansion of EPR to non-packaging items: LARAC wishes to see the EPR scheme extended to cover more items, such as textiles and absorbent hygiene products, to ensure these sectors pay for the management of their products at the end-of-life
• Clarification on the use of funding

Cook added: “Our recommendations aim to ensure that the scheme is implemented in a way that supports local authorities while decarbonising our sector”