In a move agreed by Defra, the Environment Agency and the Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP) data from reprocessors and exporters on the volume of recycled packaging material will be published on a monthly, rather than a quarterly basis.
If successful, the organisations predict that more frequent reporting could increase transparency surrounding the availability of packaging recovery notes (PRNs) and packaging export recovery notes (PERNs).
According to the Environment Agency, more frequent reporting could provide a ‘more complete picture’ of the volume of packaging waste available and ease volatility in PRNs.
In a bulletin advising of the changes, the Environment Agency said: “There were challenges during 2015 around the levels of packaging waste recycling and the availability of PRNs and PERNs.
“Defra and the ACP have identified that lack of transparency on waste packaging received for processing contributed to this, as it is only published quarterly. Defra also have a commitment to making as much data as possible freely available as part of their Open Data programme. For 2016 they have asked the Agencies to trial monthly publishing of the aggregated amount of waste packaging, by material that has been recorded on NPWD [National Packaging Waste Database].”
Publish
Monthly data will be published on around the tenth day of each month, the Environment Agency has confirmed.
However, some concerns have been raised that the monthly reporting system will not provide a complete picture on the availability of PRNs as the changes are being implemented on a voluntary, rather than a mandatory basis.
Phil Conran, chair of the ACP, told letsrecycle.com that the success of the monthly reporting system would be monitored closely.
He said: “We will review it after a few months and decide if it should be continued. There is an option later in the year to put it out to consultation. There is a consultation later in the year on targets after the paper and wood flow studies are published, so there may be an opportunity to include other things.”
Paper
Meanwhile, Mr Conran has also confirmed that, as reported by letsrecycle.com, Defra and the Environment Agency have now agreed to amend the packaging protocol for mixed papers – bringing the amount of claimable packaging material up from 12.5% to 23% (see letsrecycle.com story).
In a tweet from his 360 Environmental twitter account, Mr Conran stated: “Agencies & Defra agree mixed paper packaging protocol at 23% (fm 12.5%) interim posn for 2016 from 1 Jan. Should add approx 120k tns PRNs.”
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