Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has voiced strong opposition to the Environment Agency’s (EA) proposals to increase waste charges, set to be implemented in April 2025.
The EA launched a consultation on these proposals from 11 November 2024 to 20 January 2025, seeking feedback on new regulatory charges for waste activities, including waste exemptions, a waste crime levy, and adjustments to
hourly rates for certain activities.
The agency emphasised that these charge proposals are designed to fund regulatory work targeting waste crime.
In its response, CPE said that they “strongly disagree” with the proposed registration charge of £56 for waste exemptions, which would apply for a three-year period.
The CPE argued that such charges would “put further pressure on a sector that is already at breaking point” and they “have no ability to pass on costs to their NHS patients.”
“NHS community pharmacies are experiencing significant financial pressures due to chronic government underfunding and the current economic climate,” CPE stated.