Full details of Wastepack's compliance approach are still to be revealed. However, the scheme is thought to have put less emphasis on the need for purchasing large volumes of PRNs (packaging waste recovery notes) during 2001 and more emphasis on direct investment to increase the collection of recyclables. The revelation that Wastepack's approach may be different to other schemes is causing some consternation in the marketplace where Valpak and other schemes have spent large sums on PRNs during 2001. Others say that until the picture is clarified it could slow the purchase generally of PRNs this month and beyond.
Wastepack director Mike Beard told letsrecycle.com: “Every compliance scheme has a different kind of plan. The regulator is the only person who can say that we have complied.”
Confirming that the scheme is buying PRNs, Mr Beard explained that the general view of Wastepack about the PRN system is that “there are a number of tasks to be undertaken to get to the targets. There is price support, for recyclable as against virgin material; investment by reprocessors in increasing capacity; investment by reprocessors in collection; and the need for schemes to invest in collection and infrastructure.”
Mr Beard declined to say whether Wastepack was sticking exactly to the PRN system as traditionally viewed by other compliance schemes and the Environment Agency. But, he emphasises that the scheme expected its compliance costs to be broadly in line with the market this year.
Price
He added: “We have always imagined that the PRN should have a value attached to it to give a reprocessor a good return for dealing with the administration or a price that reflects the work being done and this is a matter of contract.”
Wastepack has said in the past that it has a “distinctive approach” to meeting the regulatory requirements. It has taken the line that: “Existing recycling was already economically viable before the regulations were introduced and only needs to be supported when commodity market prices of virgin materials are low. We believe, instead, that funds from industry should be mainly used to create new infrastructure to meet the higher future targets set by government. Our approach has forced down costs in the market generally and enabled us to set the standard for low cost compliance.
“We have developed and promoted a number of innovative ideas about what needs to be done to achieve future recycling targets.”
One example of Wastepack's direct investment in recycling infrastructure is through its Pink Bag Scheme where householders receive a pink bag into which they place recyclables. This is in operation in Suffolk and Wastepack is planning to roll the scheme out in other parts of the UK.
Wastepack is also different from other compliance schemes in that it is regulated from Scotland where it is registered with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency which reports to the Scottish Executive. A spokeswoman for SEPA said that the Agency could not comment on the compliance performance of any scheme until after the end of the compliance year.
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