Higher recycling targets for plastics, aluminium and steel packaging look set to come into effect from January 2013, after MPs agreed to amended packaging waste regulations in Parliament today (November 27).
The approved regulations would replace existing packaging recycling legislation, which expires at the end of this year, and set recycling and recovery targets through to 2017.
MPs debated the Draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 at a meeting of the Second Delegated Legislation Committee in Westminster, where the higher recycling target for plastic packaging was called into question.
MP for Rugby Mark Pawsey voiced concerns raised to him by the British Plastics Federation (BPF) and the Plastics and Film Association (PAFA), which claimed that the plastics industrys apprehension over the likelihood of the targets being met was ignored by Defra.
And, while the MP conceded that it was too late for the targets to be amended with just over a month before the new regulations are due to take effect, he urged Defra to consider carrying out an early review of progress toward that target, adding that it was the best hope of the industry.
This followed discussions in the House of Lords last week, where environment minister Lord de Mauley was criticised after it was alleged that Defra had failed to listen to the views of the plastics sector on the target levels.
Defra
But, Defra Minister Richard Benyon defended the departments decision to press ahead with the higher targets in todays session, claiming that it had a significant level of support for the changes, and adding that the Department would closely monitor progress toward the targets.
And, in response to claims that Defra had not listened to the plastics industrys concerns over the targets Mr Benyon said that the Department had undertaken a formal consultation on the proposals, which had lead to the conclusion that the higher targets were the governments best option.
He also claimed that the previous Recycling Minister, Lord Taylor, had been unable to meet with industry representatives due to a conflict of interest which was only resolved in the summer, only for the Minister to be replaced by Lord de Mauley in the cabinet reshuffle in September, who met with members of the plastics industry shortly after his appointment.
| Material | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glass | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 |
| Aluminium | 40 | 43 | 46 | 49 | 52 | 55 |
| Steel | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 |
| Paper/Board | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 |
| Plastic | 32 | 37 | 42 | 47 | 52 | 57 |
| Wood | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Percentage recycling targets currently being considered in Parliament
Under the new regulations, paper, wood and glass packaging recycling targets will remain unchanged from current levels.
But, the amendments will see a split target brought in for glass with some material having to be recovered via the remelt process (turned into new glass) and some through use in aggregates.
Producers of packaging are obligated to meet the targets through the Packaging Waste Recovery Note (PRN) system, which also channels funds back into the recycling sector.
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