The members – packaging companies with producer responsibilities set by the Packaging Regulations – were given until June 3 to sign up with a new compliance scheme or register their intention to carry out their responsibilities independently with the Environment Agency.
” If we hadn't been confident that we could achieve full compliance, then we wouldn't have agreed to take these companies on. “
– James Donaldson, Wespack
This comes as a result of the Environment Agency's refusal to accredit Cleanapack as a packaging waste compliance scheme earlier this month (see letsrecycle.com story).
Wespack says it has now taken over the obligations for 116 of the Cleanapack members, including Revlon, Toyota and The Body Shop. This more than doubles the size of Wespack, which last year carried out packaging compliance work for 73 members.
Fees
Wespack managing director James Donaldson said the compliance fees from the 116 companies had been transferred from Cleanapack to Wespack and that his scheme would most likely maintain responsibility for the companies regardless of whether Cleanapack successfully appeals its de-registration.
Mr Donaldson said: “For us to de-select the companies, then re-register them with Cleanapack – with all the information and funds to be switched over again – this would be a very expensive operation. We will probably remain responsible for the rest of this year regardless of what happens.”
PRNs
Packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs) – the evidence bought and sold to demonstrate producer responsibility in packaging recovery – that have already issued to Cleanapack on behalf of its members have been re-issued in Wespack's name. This has given Mr Donaldson added confidence that Wespack will have “no problem” achieving compliance in 2005 despite the scarcity of PRNs seen in some of the materials sectors in 2004.
Mr Donaldson said: “Before the new members joined, we had already achieved compliance for aluminium and steel – two of the harder-to-find materials – and our accredited plastic plant capacity is twice our own need.
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“We also have very good contacts across the industry and will now be able to call on Cleanaway's accredited operations as well as its contacts if need be. If we hadn't been confident that we could achieve full compliance, then we wouldn't have agreed to take these companies on,” he explained.
Mr Donaldson was unable to comment on what would happen with the member companies in 2006 should Cleanapack be allowed to register as a compliance scheme, although he did say that “an arrangement is in place”.
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