The Committee is made up of representatives from different sectors affected by the Packaging Waste Regulations and advises Defra and the devolved administrations on the development of the Regulations and packaging recycling from an industry perspective (see letsrecycle.com story).
At its firstmeeting in London last Wednesday (January 28), members agreed to set up three taskforces looking at issues of concern and interest. These will be made up of ACP members plus outside experts, such as WRAP.
The first taskforce, to be chaired by LARAC (Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee) chair Andrew Bird, will look at how the Packaging Waste Regulations can assist councils in meeting the revised EU Waste Framework Directive target to recycle 50% of household waste by 2020. This will explore whether the Packaging Waste Recovery Note (PRN) system is helping local authorities to maximise the amount of packaging waste they collect. The work will look at areas such as data and communications.
The second taskforce will look at whether transparency over how PRN revenue is spent could be improved and will be chaired by Adrian Hawkes from packaging compliance scheme Valpak. This follows some concern over where all the glass PRN money went after the glass PRN price spiked last year.
Meanwhile, the third taskforce will look at how the recently-withdrawn EU Circular Economy Package could be reviewed and what targets should replace them. This group will be chaired by ACP chairman Phil Conran.
AIPOLG
In addition to the taskforces, the ACP will also oversee the revival of the Agencies and Industry Packaging Operational Liaison Group (AIPOLG), which has not met since 2010.
The AIPOLG provides an opportunity for Environment Agency officials and those from SEPA, NIEA and Natural Resources Wales to discuss the regulation of the Packaging Regulations with ACP and industry.
Top of the AIPOLG’s agenda will be ensuring there is a level playing field for UK reprocessors and exporters in relation to the issuing of PRNs and their export equivalent, PERNs. In particular, it will be looking at the definition of contamination and what level in acceptable. This has been a major point of contention among certain UK reprocessors, who claim they are currently disadvantaged because they can only claim PRNs on material which is reprocessed whereas exporters can issue PERNs on all material they export, including any contamination it may contain.
Commenting on the meeting, Mr Conran said: “The meeting went well and everyone participated. We have a good group of people who are very knowledgeable. Hopefully we will be proactive and drive things from an industry point of view.”
He added: “I am confident we are on the right path”
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