As well as looking at business recovery and recycling targets from 2004 to 2008, the paper seeks opinions on whether to enshrine the PRN system in UK law, possible changes to the registration and accreditation system and a tightening of enforcement powers. The consultation closes on October 21, 2003.
The consultation paper looks at the recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP) in June 2003 (see letsrecycle.com story) into how the UK will reach European packaging waste recovery targets.
The current European packaging waste recovery targets are for the UK to reach a minimum of 60% recovery and 55% recycling by December 31, 2008, as well as material-specific recycling targets of 60% paper, 60% glass, 50% metals, 22.5% plastic and 15% wood.
The consultation paper suggests an additional 1.3 million tonnes of material will have to be recovered by the UK to reach these European targets in 2008.
Commenting on the consultation, environment minister Elliot Morley said: “The amount of packaging waste which is recycled in the UK will have to increase – not only if we are to achieve the challenging objectives set out in the Government's Waste Strategy 2000 but also to meet the higher EU packaging targets by 2008.
He added: “I believe that the present UK system can deliver the required results, provided that those with legal obligations carry these out, but there are areas in which changes could be made. We are working towards a more efficient and effective system which can give us greater confidence in our ability to deliver the next Directive targets”.
Long-term
The government has said that it agrees with the ACP that a long-term approach will be needed, and new UK recovery targets are likely to be decided up until 2008.
Judging from work carried out by the ACP, targets for most materials are likely to rise steeply to achieve the demands of the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive. This will be seen particularly in the glass and aluminium sectors, the consultation paper said. DEFRA sees most of this additional material having to come from the household waste stream as the industrial and commercial sources of packaging are largely sewn up.
The government is also seeking views on how to minimise the possible impact of the European Court's verdict on whether incineration should count towards packaging waste recovery targets.
The consultation paper indicates that it is likely that differentiated material-specific recycling targets will be decided in order to best reach the material-specific recycling targets laid down by Europe.
Statute
As well as business targets, the consultation paper also looks at a number of other significant issues in relation to the packaging waste recovery system in the UK. The paper seeks views on whether the packaging waste recovery note (PRN) system should be enshrined in law. This includes the possibility of making compliance schemes legally responsible for their member's recycling obligations, a requirement for the approval of schemes to be renewed and the system of accrediting reprocessors set down in statute.
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