The move follows Defra's fact-finding mission, which found that reprocessors in the plastics sector effectively over-stated the amount of packaging waste they had recycled in 2002 by 34,790 tonnes and by 80,885 tonnes in 2003.
Under the UK packaging regulations, reprocessors can claim money from packaging waste producers for every tonne of packaging waste they recycle – by selling them packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs). Defra's fact-finding mission in 2003 and 2004 found that reprocessors in the wood and plastics sectors had been selling PRNs that did not relate to actual packaging waste being recycled (see letsrecycle.com story).
After initial government and industry approval for the voluntary protocol that the wood sector is introducing to counter PRN fraud (see letsrecycle.com story), the plastics industry is now looking to draw up its own protocol.
Commenting after Defra published the results of its fact-finding mission last week, the British Plastics Federation director general Peter Davis said: “We will of course work with Defra, the Agencies, the Advisory Committee on Packaging and the BPF Recycling Council to combat mistaken or inappropriate behaviour by means of a voluntary protocol.”
Mr Davis said he fully expected the protocol to be discussed at the BPF's plastics waste management conference at the end of November. A protocol would bring in a system of verification to make sure that plastic – or any other material – that is not packaging waste is not included in tonnages that PRNs are issued against.
Agency
Along with the protocol, Mr Davis said that the Environment Agency needed more training for its staff so that they could regulate the sector more effectively.
He said: “Some years ago we offered help to the Environment Agency in training their staff to recognise what is and what isn't plastics packaging waste. The offer was not taken up, but I renew it today.”
Elsewhere in the packaging waste sector, compliance scheme Valpak said that the government should consider “realigning” plastics packaging waste recovery targets in the light of the alterations to reprocessing figures for 2002 and 2003.
Chief executive Steve Gough said: “There may be a question over whether the amended recycling rate calls for the targets to be realigned as the level of growth now looks unrealistic.”
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