The protocol has been produced by the WRA, the Wood Panel Industry Federation and the Waste and Resources Action Programme. It is designed ensure accurate identification and quantification of wood packaging waste destined for recycling.
The protocol has been drawn up following the government investigation into the inappropriate issuing of packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs) in the wood sector in 2002 (see letsrecycle.com story). Aims for the protocol are to create documented audit trails for wood packaging, which will be subject to independent verification.
Companies which sign up to the protocol will be required to have a weighbridge on site to identify the exact amount of wood coming in, and they will need specially trained staff to identify packaging waste within mixed loads of wood waste.
The third and final draft of the article is now being signed off by the government, and the WRA are expecting to hear back in 'weeks rather than months' on whether the protocol is acceptable.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com, Secretary of the Wood Recyclers Association, Rick Wilcox, said the protocol could be used in other sectors of the recycling industry face with similar difficulties in packaging data accuracy.
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Template
Mr Wilcox said: “The wood recycling sector is likely to be the first sector in the industry to adopt such a protocol and there is talk that it could be used by the government and environment agencies as a template for other sectors.
“It is a very simple document to follow and I am confident that the government will be happy with it as they have seen interim versions of it. However we'll take any comments on board and will, of course, comply,” he added.
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