Speaking at the letsrecycle.com Live! event last week, Defra's head of producer responsibility Sheila McKinley warned that the packaging industry is not sufficiently focussed on their legal recycling obligations under the Packaging Directive (see letsrecycle.com story).
– Steve Gough, Valpak
Mrs McKinley said that for targets to be met, proper planning is needed by the packaging industry to increase volumes of collected packaging waste for recycling.
Producers of packaging – and their compliance schemes – were told to show in their operational plans how they are working with reprocessors and local authorities to boost packaging waste collections and recycling.
Valpak
Commenting after the event, compliance scheme Valpak echoed Mrs McKinley's warning, pointing out that the next Packaging Directive target – set for 2008 – is now not far off.
Valpak chief executive Steve Gough said: “With 2008 only 18 months away, the packaging industry must proactively seek opportunities to develop strategic partnerships with local authorities now – we cannot afford to wait.”
Mr Gough explained that his compliance scheme had already set up a local authority support scheme aiming to support councils in the collection of packaging waste.
“We have also entered into contracts with reprocessors which allows them to develop PRN investment plans to underpin the required growth from the household waste stream,” he added.
Support
Run by Valpak's new local government affairs manager Rick Hindley, the scheme's local authority support initiative is close to agreeing its first contract. Mr Hindley, who was also speaking at the letsrecycle.com Live! event last week to highlight local authority working, said Valpak has had a “very positive” response to its ideas from councils.
However, commenting on suggested ideas for how the packaging sector in general could provide more support to local authorities, Valpak responded cautiously to the prospect of establishing a central fund for local authorities to bid for money.
Mr Gough said: “Valpak believes that competition is essential to ensure costs are controlled, central funds generally add layers of administration and inefficiencies.”
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