If approved, the regulations, will amend existing rules and set targets through to 2020 for glass, aluminium, steel, paper/board, plastic and wood packaging.
They will also see the split target brought in for glass with some material having to be recovered via the remelt process (turned into new glass) and some through use in aggregates (as a stone equivalent). Measurement of the targets will be through the PRN (packaging waste recovery note system) which also has a second purpose of putting funds into the recycling chain.
In the House of Lords last week, environment minister Lord de Mauley came under criticism for alleged failure by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to listen to the views of the plastics sector.
Officials
Strong claims were made by Lord Jenkins of Roding over whether Defra officials were listening to the views of the plastics sector, some of whom felt the targets were unachievable.
Lord Jenkins of Roding told the Grand Committee which was looking at the legislation: The industry put its case very clearly and in some detail as to why it felt that these targets were wrong. Its main message was that they are unachievable. It made the point, and I made it myself, that there really is no point in Governments setting targets that they are told by the people who are going to have to deliver them are unachievable. No doubt my noble friend will confirm this, but I got the impression that he was impressed by the strength and detail of the industry’s case. He turned to his officials and said, Surely the right thing here is for the two sides to get together and find a compromise.
Lord Jenkins continued: We were all rather shattered when the senior official present answered blandly, “Well it is just too late-the order’s been laid and we can’t change it now”. They had been talking for an hour before the Minister was told that there was no point in listening because it could not be changed. The industry was very angry, as I am sure noble Lords will understand, and the meeting broke up in some tension.
| Material | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glass | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 |
| Aluminium | 40 | 43 | 46 | 49 | 52 | 55 |
| Steel | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 |
| Paper/Board | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 |
| Plastic | 32 | 37 | 42 | 47 | 52 | 57 |
| Wood | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Proposed percentage recycling targets currently being considered in Parliament
Speaking at the end of the session, Lord de Mauley said: To sum up, these regulations will allow the United Kingdom both to continue to meet its EU regulations and to achieve our ambition to increase recycling rates. They demonstrate that economic growth and improving the environment can go hand in hand. I recognise that some targets are more challenging than others, in particular the plastics targets.
Evidence
The minister continued: Decisions about the targets were based on the best available evidence and reflected consultation with key interests throughout the supply chain, but dialogue should not stop there. I assure noble Lords that my department will continue to monitor progress towards achieving the targets throughout the period in question and will be very open to discussion. We will maintain regular dialogue with the industry and others, and will take appropriate action if needed.
Remelt formula
A complex formula is to be used to work out the amount of glass that will have to be recycled via remelt or aggregates.
The draft statutory instrument notes:
Where in the preceding year the producer has handled any glass (whether in the form of packaging or packaging materials), the producer shall recycle by re-melt an amount of glass packaging waste calculated as follows: –
Packaging Conference
Packaging recycling is set to be discussed at a one-day conference organised by letsrecycle.com, entitled Working Together: Meeting Packaging Recycling targets in 2013 in London tomorrow (November 27). To find out more click here.
L x B x W = G
Where:
L is the amount to the nearest tonne of the glass (whether in the form of packaging or packaging of materials handled in Great Britain by the producer in the preceding year;
B is the percentage prescribed in paragraph 4 in relation to the class of producer;
W is the percentage prescribed in paragraph 6A as the recycling by re-melt target for the relevant year;
And G is the amount by tonnage of glass packaging waste which is to be recycled by remelt in the relevant year.
The W target is proposed as 63% from 2013 to 2014 inclusive, and 64% in 2016 and 2017. The B figure for is for raw materials, converter, pack/fill and seller proportionate obligation.
The document will now be scrutinised in the House of Commons
Register for free to comment