Wastepack, the second largest packaging waste compliance scheme in the UK, is registered with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). During the 2001 obligation year, the scheme purchased 180,000 tonnes worth of PRNs out of its 415,000 tonne obligation.
The scheme's intention was to use funds that did not go towards purchasing PRNs to invest in the UK recycling infrastructure through an alternative route. The investment of these funds was postponed due to the controversy surrounding the matter, but Wastepack announced last month that it would be making available 2.3 million for recycling projects in the near future (see letsrecycle.com story).
Ongoing
Officials in the Scottish Executive Environment Economics department have been carrying out a review into the affair since April 2002. A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said: “There is an ongoing review into Wastepack, being carried out at the Scottish Executive. But I cannot comment as to its seriousness and cannot say when it will be complete.”
However, it is thought that the process is likely to come to a conclusion in the next two or three months. The Scottish Executive has said it will issue a statement once proceedings have come to a close.
Although confidentiality agreements have restricted details being released, a spokesman for Wastepack told letsrecycle.com: “We welcome the process for finishing this review, which primarily concerns judgement about our likely future performance. We continue to work closely with our regulator, SEPA, and are committed to playing a full part in meeting the UK packaging recycling targets through the PRN system.”
Deficiencies
The House of Lords inquiry over the summer of 2002 did not feel it was in the right position to criticise Wastepack, but did comment on the deficiencies of the packaging waste system (see letsrecycle.com story). The Environment Agency told the inquiry that had it been Wastepack's regulator, it would not have accepted the scheme's 2001 compliance plan. However, SEPA had accepted Wastepack's 2001 compliance plan.
It is also understood that a number of compliance schemes have had their compliance plans rejected at first submission stage by the Environment Agency this year. They have had to resubmit altered plans in order to have them accepted.
Wastepack issued a statement last month announcing that it had secured, or had plans in place to secure its full obligation through the PRN process. Commenting to letsrecycle.com, its spokesman said: “We recently announced that we have acquired all the PRNs we need to meet our 2002 targets. We are already making good progress in implementing plans to meet our compliance obligations for 2003 and beyond.”
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