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Defra Announces Ambitious Packaging Recycling Targets
February 14, 2012Defra announced new packaging recycling targets for steel, aluminium and plastics and a split target for glass. The announcement has already caused a stir on the packaging sector as manufacturers are concerned about the amount they will have to pay to meet higher packaging recycling targets proposed for 2013-17.
On the other hand, local authorities have welcomed the news as they believe these proposals will attract more investment to council services. Right now councils only receive an indirect support through the PRN (Packaging Recycling Notes) system to help with packaging recycling.
Councils expect that higher targets will incite producers and reprocessors to work directly with waste authorities to provide the infrastructure required to meet the targets.
However, the Packaging Federation do not agree with the proposed new targets and stated that the UK is far from having the collection and sorting infrastructure in place to meet these challenging targets.
Packaging Federation chief executive Dick Searle said “Our industry has a real concern about the potential cost impact upon it. We operate in a highly competitive and adversarial supply chain in which we, regrettably, are the weakest link.
“If PRN prices are driven high by targets for which the infrastructure is not in place, there is a real danger that a disproportionate share of the costs (and far higher than the ‘official’ 9%) will fall on our industry.”
Meanwhile, British Retail Consortium (BRC) has announced that supports ambitious packaging recycling targets proposed by Defra.
Speaking to Packaging News, BRC head of environment Bob Gordon said: “We want to see greater recycling as a sector and we have done a lot of work to lightweight packaging and a lot of work has been done to increase the recycling of packaging.
“Higher targets will drive greater consistency and bring about greater quality.”
INCPEN, a non-profit research organisation which represents many companies throughout the supply chain, shares the Packaging Federation concern over “obligated tonnage” and said that needs to be more investment in collection, sorting and cleaning infrastructure.
It also believes that the proposed the new plastic packaging recycling target of 42% is way to high and is in favour of a 2% year-on-year increase in the steel target in order to bring more value to PRNs and encourage companies to register to issue steel PRNS.
This debate is far from over and we would like to hear your thoughts these new “Packaging Recycling Targets” proposed by Defra. Join the discussion on our Facebook Page or Google+ Page. Do not forget to follow us first.
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UK Packaging Federation
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