Details made available on government&#39s Advisory Committee on Packaging

Chaired by former Valpak head John Turner (see letsrecycle.com story), the ACP will advise the government on producer responsibility in packaging waste, and meets four times a year.

This first meeting of the committee's new line-up was largely administrative, identifying the main issues that need to be tackled and setting up a terms of reference for the ACP.

In advising government ministers, the ACP will mainly focus on the following issues within packaging and packaging waste:

• The effectiveness of regulations and guidance in delivering UK compliance with European targets
• The development of sorting and reprocessing infrastructure needed to meet targets, as well as expanding recycling markets
• Expanding the household waste stream and communicating more effectively with householders to bring them on board
• The steps needed to ensure that packaging meets the demands of European and UK regulations
• The transfer of compliance data from obligated companies to an electronic medium

In tackling these issues, four task force groups were set up, who will make their first reports at the next ACP meeting in January 2003. There will be a 'Targets and Infrastructure' task force chaired by John Turner, a &#39Da;ta' task force chaired by Biffa's Phil Conran, an &#39E;nforcement' task force also chaired by John Turner and a &#39De; Minimis' task force chaired by Chris Scholey from Rexam Glass.