In 2020, the packaging waste recycling targets for businesses for 2021 and 2022 confirmed that wood packaging targets will drop from 48% in 2020 to 35% (see letsrecycle.com story). This was kept at 35% in 2023.
This fall in target was thought to be implemented “to reflect the demand for a large amount of material being used by the biomass sector” and potential errors in previous targets.
The targets determine how much support wood reprocessors receive through the Packaging Waste Recovery Note (PRN) system, as the higher the target is the more PRNs are needed to achieve it.
This in turns generates more revenue for wood recyclers to ensure waste wood is recycled into new products and animal bedding.
I am open to increasing targets for wood packaging
- Rebecca Pow
Letter
In May 2023, the WRA sent a letter, co-signed by the Wood Panel Industries Federation and the Confederation of Forest Industries, calling for higher packaging recycling targets from 2024 in order to “drive investment in recycling and ensure as much wood as possible is recycled in line with the waste hierarchy”.
The WRA has issued a statement this morning, saying that Rebecca Pow had responded to the letter on 14 June.
According to the WRA, Mrs Pow said: “I am encouraged that the wood sector is keen to have higher recycling targets. As part of finalising our plans for Extended Producer Responsibility, we will be confirming future recycling targets for all packaging materials.
“I am open to increasing targets for wood packaging and I have asked Defra officials to update you on current thinking.”
Measures
The WRA also said Mrs Pow’s letter explained how it was Defra’s intention to “resume the work on reusable packaging including specific measures to increase the reuse of wooden pallets” in order to “deliver the intended environmental benefits associated with increased re-use, whilst still providing incentives to recycle waste wood packaging where appropriate at the end of life.”
Defra was mulling including reuse targets for wood in 2022 (see letsrecycle.com story). No targets were set for wood initially for 2022 and 2023, before the extended 35% was later decided.
Defra met with stakeholders last year to discuss targets to increase the reuse of wooden pallets, but no concrete proposals came forward.
‘Pleased’
The response from Mrs Pow was welcomed by WRA chair Richard Coulson, who said: “We are very pleased to hear that Defra are open to increasing the packaging recycling targets for waste wood, which have been set too low for too long.
“Setting higher targets under EPR will ensure that as much waste wood as possible is recycled in accordance with the waste hierarchy and will help to protect the many benefits the waste wood reprocessing sector brings.
“We look forward to engaging with officials at Defra to ensure any future targets create the best environmental outcome for both wood which is reusable and that which is not. We hope that any replacement to the PRN system also continues to support the recycling of suitable waste wood packaging.”
Alastair Kerr, director general of the Wood Panel Industries Federation, added: “We welcome the statement by the Minister that Defra are open to the idea of increasing wood packaging recycling targets. Over the past decade we have seen the volumes of wood packaging come through for recycling reduce significantly. The capacity to recycle this material remains, all that is needed is the driver to push the material from recovery into recycling”.
Subscribe for free