Sources at Defra have indicated that ministers have said they are happy to weigh up the options for producer responsibility on products which could range from gas bottles and mattresses to other items such as paint. Under consideration is whether schemes should be voluntary (such as those for newspaper recycling) or legally binding, such as those for used batteries which derives from EU legislation.
Textiles
Textiles and used clothing are also a current workstream for the department and there have been discussions as to the extent that retailers should be involved with used clothing. Reference has been made to France where funding is provided by retailers towards recycling of clothing.
Gas cylinders
Gas cylinders are of particular concern both to the operators of metals shredders because of the potential to cause explosions and can also be a problem for civic amenity site operators. In the past, UKPLG, the body representing the liquefied petroleum gas industry, has said that gas cylinders are “designed for reuse upon return and remain the property of the gas company throughout, so should not be exported, transported or sold without the express permission of the owner”.
Rory Stewart
Whether civil servants follow through in depth on new producer responsibility schemes remains unclear as while current recycling and resource minister Rory Stewart had opted in favour of looking at the extension of producer responsibility, his successor (unless Mr Stewart stays in post) might choose not to move the idea forward.
And, it is understood that the issue of producer responsibility development could become more complex because of the Brexit discussions.
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