Packaging targets for 2008 tight but achievable

However, the organisation – which is made up of representatives from the packaging industry – is urging obligated companies to “redouble their efforts” and may still recommend a change to both UK and business targets for 2009 if the outlook is bad in January.

The revelation came this morning from the ACP's chairman, John Turner, following a special meeting of the ACP on Friday (November 7).

The unscheduled meeting was called to consider the implications of the changes in the market to meeting packaging recycling targets and included representatives of Defra, BERR, WRAP and the devolved Environment Agencies.

Mr Turner said: “Against the background of the economic downturn the ACP examined the progress made so far towards the 2008 EU packaging recycling targets. It came to the conclusion that the targets remained tight but achievable and that compliance schemes and producers registered individually need to redouble their efforts to comply with the obligations.”

He added: “The ACP will review the situation for 2009 in January in the light of market information on packaging sales. It will then take a view on whether to recommend that UK and business targets should be adjusted to reflect market changes while ensuring the EU targets and UK packaging objectives continue to be met.”

Targets 

Under the Packaging Directive, the UK must recover 60% of all packaging waste by December 31, 2008, and recycle 55%, as well as meeting a number of other targets.

In order to meet these targets, a series of UK business targets have been set by Defra for each year up until 2011, which include a 72% recovery target for 2008 and a 73% recovery target for 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Up until the end of September 2008, the UK was largely on track to meet its packaging recycling targets for this year, but the fall in demand for many recovered materials has seen PRN prices sky-rocket and has raised concerns from some commentators that the targets may be hard to meet (see letsrecycle.com story).

While some producer compliance schemes have already bought enough packaging recycling evidence to cover their obligations for 2008, others are having to buy evidence and highly inflated prices as demand soars.

And, as the UK enters a recession, it is likely that sales of goods may reduce, creating a reduction in the amount of packaging on the market and leading to further implications for packaging recycling and future targets.

Mr Turner advised that exporters and reprocessors should get their recycling tonnages on the National Packaging Waste Database as soon as possible so that the ACP could assess the outlook for this year and next sooner rather than later, commenting “we are keeping our eye on the ball”.

The next scheduled meeting of the ACP is to take place on December 17, however, Mr Turner explained that there may be another meeting before then “if needed”.

Mr Turner, who has been chair of the ACP since 2002, is due to chair the letsrecycle.com Live! packaging recycling summit: 2009 and beyond on December 11 in London, which will explore how the economic downturn is affecting the packaging sector.