The suggestion comes in Zero Waste Scotland’s Scottish Packaging Recovery Note Feasibility Study, published yesterday (May 20) which assesses the benefits and disadvantages of replacing the current UK-wide system north of the border.
At present, packaging producers from across the UK are obligated to provide evidence that they are paying towards packaging recycling via the purchase of PRNs from reprocessors or exporters. They can fulfil their obligations individually or sign up to producer compliance schemes which will do this on their behalf.
However the proposed SPRN model, devised through a series of stakeholder workshops, has been produced to address ‘some of the criticisms’ of the current UK system.
The study suggests an estimated 944,000 tonnes of packaging is currently placed on the Scottish market, with 534,000 tonnes collected for recycling.
Evidence
In order to boost recycling of packaging in Scotland, the SPRN would include an ‘evidence point at collection’ – which would require collectors to provide evidence to compliance schemes on the quality and quantity of the packaging material they have collected. In return for the production of this evidence they would receive a share of the overall SPRN value.
The report argues that this system would provide transparency as to where PRN revenue is being spent throughout the supply chain.
The report also suggests creating a compliance SPRN to safeguard against an ‘insufficient quantity of material’ being collected if Scotland established its own system.
In the event of establishing its own system, Scotland would hold a packaging recycling rate of 57% – above the current UK rate of 56%. However, some materials – such as glass, steel and aluminium – would fall below UK recycling rates and would not meet the EU packaging target.
The compliance SPRN would be issued in scenarios where there is likely to be a shortfall in the number of packaging recovery notes available. This would occur late in the compliance year ‘so to avoid influencing the market’, with stakeholders deciding its value.
The revenue generated from this would be used to fund future infrastructure investment. However the EU packaging targets would still have to be met through collection of material and the compliance SPRN would not count towards an EU target.
Costs
The report concludes that the SPRN system would bring reduced costs for local authorities, extend producer responsibility to take account of all packaging placed on the markets, and bring in new material streams such as non-clothing textiles, mattresses and carpets.
The report concludes such a system could be rolled out ‘within two years’, but concedes benefits would only outweigh the costs over a 15-year period.
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Commenting on the study, Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “This report on the potential of a Scottish Packaging Recovery Note system provides food for thought. It finds that a Scottish PRN system could have benefits around increasing recycling, accountability for producers, environmental performance, and cost benefits over the longer term, especially for local authorities.
“However, there are a number of factors which would have to be considered for the introduction of this system, which would also have to work in tandem with other policies. “
Alternatives
The study also outlines potential alternatives to a Scottish PRN system. A Regulatory Impact Assessment found that Scotland could retain the current UK system and create an independent reporting system.
This would include setting Scottish specific targets and extending the scope of Consumer Information Obligations to include responsibility for litter.
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