Defra has this morning (14 June) published its long-awaited Government Review of Waste Policy, laying out the government’s plans on waste policy for the years to come.
Here, Packaging News gives a quick run-down of the key points relating to packaging.
Recycling targets
The government is to consult on increasing recycling targets for packaging producers from 2013 to 2017. The Review says: “The scale of the increases we consult on will depend on our Impact Assessment, which will consider issues such as affordability for businesses and government.”
Glass recycling
A separate consultation exercise will seek to establish a sub-target for recycling of glass into re-melt applications. A final decision will be made in the 2012 Budget.
On-the-go recycling
The Review says that Wrap will support councils who want to work with local businesses to develop infrastructures for on-the-go recycling. It says that Wrap will collate and disseminate information and good practice on recycling on the go and also work to identify the best models for how the facilities should work.
Food waste
Around 16m tonnes of food are wasted in the UK each year and the document says the Government will work with and support businesses and local authorities to reduce avoidable food waste.
Recycled content
The document says that government will work with businesses encourage greater use of recycled content in packaging. Significantly, it adds the caveat where appropriate. It also wants to make packaging more recyclable.
Energy from waste
The Government says it will work to “remove barriers” to energy from waste facilities being developed “by ensuring information is available and readily understood”. It will publish a guide to energy from waste but will, it says, remain “technology neutral”.
Wood waste to landfill
The government will consult in 2012 on restricting sending wood waste to landfill in order to divert the material to energy recovery.
Carbon footprint of packaging
The document acknowledges that the carbon footprint of packaging is “dwarfed by that of the products it contains” but says that it “still uses enough resources to be worth making as efficient as possible”.
Producer responsibility: hospitality sector
The review says the government is working with the hospitality sector to increase recycling rates and says that an agreement will be made “with a wide range of busiensses including contract caterers, hotels, pubs and restaurants”.
Toy packaging
Defra has set up, the document reveals, a working group led by Wrap on toy packaging that is similar, it says, to a previous group that led to reductions in Easter egg packaging. The British Toy and Hobby Association has been involved, we are told.
Plastic bags
Not much on this, but the document says that the government will decide whether any further action is needed “in the light of the 2011-12 figures on the use of single-use carrier bags in England and the results of the proposed policy in Wales”.
Responsibility deals: metal and plastic packaging
The Government is also planning to explore responsibility deals to raise recycling levels for metal and plastic packaging.
EU Packaging Directive
The review claims that language in the text of the EU Packaging Directive can be “open to interpretation” and leaves the door open for companies who do not want to reduce their packaging. The review says the Government would like to see “clearer language” in the Directive. “We have already raised this formally with the European Commission and says it will do so again when the Directive is reviewed.
PRNs
The review acknowledges concerns about the transparency of the PRN system. However, it says that it would not make sense to fundamentally change the current system ahead of the revision of the EU Packaging Directive, which is expected in 2014. However, the government is planning to review how the system works in time for the new directive. It will then take a final decision on what to do once the new Directive is published.
Plastics recycling
The government wants to work with businesses across packaging to achieve three main aims here. First, to ensure that more plastic packaging in the UK market can be mechanically sorted at recycling facilities. Second, to increase participation rates in recycling of plastics. Third, to develop sorting and reprocessing capacity for non-bottle plastics – the yoghurt pots and so on usually referred to as mixed plastics.
Deposit systems
The report talks at length about the potential for a deposit system, which has been pushed for by the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, but concludes that it would be too expensive to put into place. It estimates the annual cost at around £1.4bn.
Weekly bin collections
The document says that the government “understands that the public have a reasonable expectation that household waste collections services should be weekly, particularly for smelly waste”. It does not, however, ban fortnightly collections.
These are the key points we have identified in the report published today. Now we want your reactions to what the government has said.
Email PN at packagingnews.editorial@metropolis.co.uk or leave your comments below to
Click here to download the full Waste Review from Defra’s website
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