Scotland looks to amend PRN system

The plans were unveiled in a consultation on Safeguarding Scotlands resources which focuses on the potential to save businesses up to 1.4 billion a year by using raw materials more efficiently and cutting waste.

Aside from packaging and waste reduction measures,other areas covered in the consultation include carrier bags, reuse and voluntary agreements for businesses (see below).

Packaging

With regards to packaging, the government is planning to amend the existing producer responsibility regulations to enable packaging waste arising in Scotland to be recorded separately to that in England and Wales. The existing legislation requires businesses producing or selling products to report on the amounts of packaging sold on the entire UK market, while reprocessors and exporters also have to report on quantities of material they deal with on a UK basis. The Scottish Government hopes that by introducing Scotland-specific reporting, it can improve packaging recycling rates in the country.

Explaining its reasoning, the government said: The system supports less recycling in Scotland compared with areas of greater population density in England. It is estimated that 50-52% of Scottish packaging waste is recycled, below the recycling rate for the UK as a whole (59-61%).

We propose to amend the system to require identification of packaging sold and collected in Scotland to enable Ministers to make future adjustments to make the system work better for Scotland. We want to achieve this while keeping any extra administration to a minimum and would design any changes accordingly.

System

Under the proposed system retailers and importers would have to provide separate figures for the amount of packaging sold in Scotland whilst those in the supply chain raw material manufacturers, converters and packers and filers would be required to provide evidence-based estimates.

Reprocessors and exporters who wish to issue Scottish packaging recycling evidence – known as PRNs or PERNs – would also need to demonstrate that the packaging waste was originally collected in Scotland. The government said that few extra resources would be required to do this as the Duty of Care requires waste transfer notes to record the origin of the waste.

Asa result of introducing a separate Scottish system for PRNs, theGovernment hopes thatthe price paid for the material could increase as the demand for Scottish evidence and therefore Scottish recyclate develops.

Targets

Also in the consultation, the Scottish Government is proposing a waste reduction target of 15% by 2025 and an interim target of 5% waste reduction by 2015.

This builds on the targets published in the Scottish Governments Zero Waste Plan, published in 2010, including a 70% recycling target for all waste by 2025 with only 5% of waste going to landfill (see letsrecyle.com story).

Commenting on the consultation, Scottish environment Richard Lochhead said: The challenge is to minimise the resources we need to deliver the quality of life we have come to expect, while reaping the economic benefits. This programme is about helping Scottish businesses become more competitive, about helping Scottish households cut costs, and about helping to preserve our environment for ourselves and for future generations.

Other key elements of the consultation include:

• Measures to support business and public bodies to save on waste and materials, including delivering a single business resource efficiency service for Scotland;
• Introducing Zero Waste Pledges, encouraging businesses to commit to waste reductions and take the credit for their actions;
• Working with Zero Waste Scotland to increase the supply and demand for quality reusable items;
• Proposals for requiring retailers to charge for single use carrier bags, with the proceeds going to good causes (see letsrecycle.com story).

Savings

Marissa Lippiatt, head of business resource efficiency at Zero Waste Scotland – the organisation set up by the Scottish Government to deliver its Zero Waste Plan – added: No one likes to see things that could be put to good use going to waste. Preventing waste saves money and ensures we make the most of the resources we have. Many of the raw materials we currently rely on are running out. Using less now could safeguard our future, and its also the best option for the environment.

Scottish businesses stand to save up to 1.4 billion by taking simple steps to prevent waste and use resources more efficiently. The Scottish Governments proposed waste prevention targets will encourage businesses to realise these savings and boost Scotlands economy.

The consultation runs from June 28 2012 for three months, until September 28 2012