But, the shortfall could be reduced if the Environment Agency allows packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs) issued by suspended plastics reprocessors and purchased by obligated parties to count towards obligations.
The data, released by Defra yesterday, shows that the UK is well on course to meet its overall recycling and recovery targets for 2004. But, for some of the specific materials this year could be difficult.
By comparing the existing reprocessing data for the first three quarters of 2004 – including exports and the PRNs carried over from December 2003 into January 2004 – against the UK business targets, some idea can be determined for what is needed in the rest of this year.
Suggested requirements for 2004 can be seen in the following table:
UK packaging waste reprocessing, as of November 15, 2004 (figures in tonnes)
| Paper | 153,717 | 611,166 | 618,329 | 641,802 | 174,314 | 2,199,328 | Glass | 54,972 | 286,176 | 242,291 | 249,377 | 111,442 | 944,258 | Aluminium | 1,987 | 9,246 | 7,987 | 8,083 | 7,928 | 35,231 | Steel | 19,850 | 84,790 | 84,533 | 78,763 | 79,323 | 347,259 | Plastic | 16,233 | 77,671 | 82,303 | 81,151 | 111,001 | 368,359 | Wood | 45,180 | 202,472 | 196,331 | 193,904 | -489,231 | 148,656 | Total Recycling | 291,939 | 1,271,521 | 1,231,774 | 1,253,080 | -5223 | 4,043,091 | EfW | 33,174 | 138,111 | 148,091 | 158,257 | Total Recovery | 325,113 | 1,409,632 | 1,379,865 | 1,411,337 | 938,846 | 5,464,793 |
| Source: letsrecycle.com analysis of Defra data | ||||||
According to letsrecycle.com analysis, in order to meet the UK overall recovery target for 2004, 938,846 tonnes of recovery – which includes recycling and energy-from-waste – will have to take place in this final quarter.
Minimum recycling
But, because of the government's demand that 94% of recovery this year be undertaken through recycling, the real requirement for the fourth quarter will be for about 1,088,592 tonnes of packaging waste recycling. Seen against figures for the first three quarters of 2004, this requirement for reprocessing should be carried out relatively comfortably.
Materials
Among the specific materials, wood recovery has far surpassed its targets, and will be important only for meeting overall recycling targets. Since only 174,314 tonnes of paper packaging needs to be recovered to meet the 2004 material-specific paper target, this will easily be met, with plenty of paper PRNs available to meet the general recycling needs.
Glass PRNs should also be in sufficient supply to allow a 100,000 tonne carry-over of surplus notes from December 2004 into January 2005. This is because in order to meet the glass specific target, only 111,442 tonnes is needed, and for each of the three quarters of 2004 over 240,000 tonnes of glass packaging waste was recovered, a level that should continue into the fourth quarter.
In the metals, materials-specific targets seem more difficult, though achievable. If the levels of recovery seen in the third quarter of 2004 can be sustained in the rest of the year, aluminium reprocessors would generate sufficient PRNs. But, steel reprocessors would have to recycle slightly more than their third quarter tonnage to meet their full-year target.
Plastics
Data for plastic packaging waste recovery appears to show that meeting this year's material-specific target will be particularly difficult. According to the calculations, a reprocessing and export level similar to the first three quarters could mean a shortfall of more than 20,000 tonnes this year.
However, there is still some uncertainty in the sector over whether the Environment Agency will allow PRNs issued by suspended plastics reprocessors to count towards obligations. It is thought the amount of PRNs involved could be as much as 24,000 tonnes, and if the Agency decides the notes can count towards obligations, the apparent shortfall of plastic PRNs will be significantly smaller.
For the full data tables of packaging waste recovery for the first three quarters of 2004, correct as of November 15, 2004, see the Defra website.
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