The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned that final fee levels for the government’s long-delayed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme will hurt drinks producers and consumers alike.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) confirmed last week that EPR fees for glass packaging will be set at £192 per tonne, down from the previously indicated £240, but still significantly higher than comparable costs in Europe.

The WSTA said the charges to the government scheme, which launched in April 2025, risk pushing producers to ditch recyclable glass in favour of cheaper, less sustainable alternatives, as non-glass containers currently fall outside the scope of EPR.

WSTA chief executive Miles Beale described the fees as “a blow to the sector”, adding: “Wine and spirit businesses have been waiting a long time for confirmation of glass price fees and while the final EPR prices announced today provides financial certainty for accounting purposes, the scale of the glass fees confirms industry fears.

“These hefty EPR fees are still significantly more per unit compared with charges across Europe, 8 times more than in Germany, and 3 times more than in Croatia or Finland.

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“There is no time to avoid these fees for produce sold this year. Having to pay the highest EPR fee for glass will force businesses to pass the costs onto consumers, pushing up inflation while – perversely – encouraging the use of cheaper and less sustainable packaging alternatives.” 

The WSTA also criticised the structure of the upcoming modulated fee system, due to begin in 2026, where ‘red’ classified packaging could face double base fees by 2028.

Beale warned the fees will hit SMEs and importers the hardest, adding: “This is especially impactful on SMEs and importers who need time to make changes and may not have revenues to cover these unknown costs.”

The trade body renewed calls for a delay to the rollout and an urgent review of how the fees are calculated. It also took aim at what it described as a “disconnect between government promises and policy delivery”, noting that assurances around the exemption of hospitality waste had not materialised.

While DEFRA expects 85% of affected businesses to raise prices as a result of EPR, the WSTA warned that the number could be even higher for wine and spirits producers, already suffering from tax levy changes