The head of producer responsibility at Defra has reassured the packaging recycling sector that recycling targets for businesses will be set for next year and that proposals are currently being finalised by ministers.
Uncertainty has surrounded the issue of packaging targets since a consultation was launched in March by the previous government which proposed new targets for 2011-2020 (see letsrecycle.com story). At present, targets have only been set until 2010.
Ms Hammond's comments came in response to a question from Angus Macpherson, managing director of the Edinburgh-based PRN trading platform, the Environment Exchange, who was keen to get some clarity.
She said: “You can assume that there will be targets. Not having targets was never really an option. We have to find a way of transposing the Packaging Directive – there is no option of not having targets as such.”
Ms Hammond added that the proposals would include technical changes and measures to improve the transparency in the PRN system which were addressed in the original consultation.
She said: “You can expect more than just targets. There were three parts to the consultation [targets, transparency and technical changes] and there will be something on all of them.”
Welcome
While delegates were disappointed not to find out the level or nature of the targets, the reassurance from Ms Hammond was welcomed.
It is widely expected that either flat or slightly increased targets will be set for next year, but some in the sector feared that they might be dropped altogether – thereby significantly reducing investment in recycling.
This is because, under the packaging regulations, packaging producers are obligated to meet the targets by purchasing packaging recycling evidence from reprocessors or exporters, providing an important subsidy.
Valpak
Concerns over the potential impact of having no targets were discussed at the event by Adrian Hawkes, director of policy at Valpak, who said that keeping targets flat would also cause problems.
He explained that if the targets were not raised, PRN supply could outstrip demand, meaning that PRN prices would plummet and investment in the system could fall to £20 million or less – down from £84 million in 2009 and a situation which he said would be “unsustainable”.
He said: “Flat or no targets would dramatically reduce investment in recycling, having a rapid and visible impact as local authorities seriously consider viability of collection systems.
“I hope the government takes this view into account when deciding what to do.”
Mr Hawkes said that packaging producers were not adverse to a rise in targets despite being obligated and advocated “modestly increasing” goals.
He said: “The UK packaging system has delivered positive results to date at relatively low cost to business and most producers want it to continue as long as costs remain reasonable.”
Policy
Discussing packaging policy in general, Ms Hammond said that the medium to long-term direction of this would be addressed in the government's waste strategy review, which will report initial findings in Spring 2011.
Until then, she pointed to ministerial interest in optimising packaging and said that WRAP would convene a working group on toy packaging to reduce waste in this area through voluntary agreements and appealed for businesses to take part.
She also said that the government would be carefully analysing the findings of a report published earlier this month on the benefits of introducing deposit refund schemes for drinks containers.
And, she said ministers would be encouraging responsibility deals such as that pioneered by Marks and Spencer to directly support local authority kerbside collections (see letsrecycle.com story).
She said: “Responsibility deals for packaging could work on packaging recycling as well.
“M&S has an initiative with local authorities in Kent and Somerset and we are wondering if that is something which could be played upon and extended in terms of the model of big society.”
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