No surprises as DEFRA predicts 2002 packaging targets met

Provisional figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs released today show that a recovery rate of 53.6% was achieved from a total of 9,508,841 tonnes of packaging in the waste stream. The target was 50%.

Two significant points emerge from the data which can be seen on the DEFRA website.

One is that the level of wood recycling remains under scrutiny. With 83.6% of wood packaging waste reported as being recycled, questions are being asked as to whether this can possibly be correct. Should the amount of packaging wood in the waste stream be higher, this would proportionately reduce the recovery total for 2002. But, even if several hundred thousand tonnes more were found, the recovery figure would be unlikely to fall below 50%.

Commenting on the wood PRNs this week, Environment Minister Michael Meacher said: “The latest figures show a very substantial increase in the recovery and recycling of wood packaging waste. It was reported at a rate of 57% in 2001. The latest figures for 2002 are 84%. That shows a substantial uplift, so large that there have been suspicions of an inappropriate allocation and use of packaging waste recovery notes. That is why I have asked my department to investigate.”

Surplus
The second point, is that a total of 5,101,334 tonnes were recovered or recycled. But, as of November last year DEFRA put the obligated tonnage at only 4,701,917 tonnes which means that there was a surplus of about 400,000 tonnes in the form of unused PRNs or material simply recorded as recovered or recycled.

PRN upturn
Accordingly, prices for PRNs this year are expected to remain at a low ebb although Environment Minister Michael Meacher seemed optimistic this week that there may be an upturn.

He said: “I have told the industry that under the EU packaging waste regulations, there will be a considerable increase in those targets, probably of the order of 60-65% by 2006-08. In the light of that, further investment needs to be made now in readiness to meet those higher targets. On that basis I hope that PRN prices will begin to recover.”