John Turner, who chairs the Advisory Committee on Packaging for Defra, said the Environment Agency was now on board for the work, which might ultimately lead to “electric PRNs”.
” This will help get rid of much of the paperwork involved and will tackle the alleged fraud in PRNs. “
– John Turner, ACP
Mr Turner, who was formally chief executive of the UK's largest compliance scheme, believes an online system will help cut administration costs – and make it easier for the Environment Agency to clamp down on fraud within the PRN system.
PRNs – packaging waste recovery notes – are the evidence used to show that packaging producers have paid for their share of UK recycling targets for packaging waste being met.
They are currently bought by producers or their compliance schemes from accredited reprocessors through a complicated system of paperwork. The work on the new national data system could be up and running by 2007, Mr Turner said.
Measurement
Speaking at Defra's packaging conference in Westminster on Tuesday, Mr Turner said: “Nothing improves without measurement, which is why we have been working with the Agency and Defra on a web-based system that should be operational for the compliance year 2007.”
He explained: “This will help get rid of much of the paperwork involved and will tackle the alleged fraud in PRNs.”
The work towards the new online data system has been carried out by a task force of the ACP, led by Biffpack's Phil Conran. The breakthrough in developing the national data system has come despite the Environment Agency – regulators of the English and Welsh side of the PRN system – being slow to support the idea (see letsrecycle.com story).
Recycling
While the dealing of PRNs looks set to become easier, Mr Turner warned packaging producers and compliance schemes not to assume they can meet their targets purely by sitting back and buying PRNs.
He said: “Producer funds can be used to increase recycling, from which PRNs are then generated. Complying is not about just getting hold of PRNs.If you want to buy PRNs, you have to drive up recycling in order for those PRNs to be available.”
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The ACP is working towards a plan that could see Defra bringing in “heavier penalties” for non-compliance with packaging recovery targets each year. Industry is particularly keen to move towards graduated penalties based on the level of non-compliance, rather than strict criminal proceedings.
Mr Conran, also speaking at Tuesday's event on progress made to improve the PRN system through the newly consolidated regulations that came into force this month, said: “Non-compliance penalties would complete the picture.”
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