145/02
FAILURE BY WASTEPACK COMPLIANCE SCHEME TO MEET RECOVERY AND RECYCLING TARGETS IN 2001
Environment Minister Michael Meacher today announced his anger at the failure of a major player in the packaging compliance industry to meet its recovery and recycling obligations under the packaging Regulations.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) today announced that Wastepack had failed to take reasonable steps to fulfil its recovery and recycling obligations in 2001 and is issuing a formal warning notice.
Wastepack had been required to carry out recovery of 415,000 tonnes of packaging waste, which is the total of its members'' obligations, and demonstrate compliance with this obligation to SEPA. It discharged only 180,000 tonnes of its recovery obligation, leaving a shortfall of 240,000 tonnes.
The company is a packaging compliance scheme registered with SEPA under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended).
Further non-compliance could result in SEPA cancelling the registration of Wastepack, the second largest compliance scheme in the UK.
Mr Meacher said:
"I am angry at anything that detracts from the UK''s recovery and recycling performance and I am particularly angry that one of the largest compliance schemes should have underperformed so dramatically.
"I understand that SEPA has taken the view that it will not cancel the scheme''s registration but that Scottish Ministers will now consider whether their approval of the scheme should be withdrawn."
"Other compliance schemes and most individually-registered businesses obligated under the Regulations have produced a significant increase in the UK''s packaging waste recycling performance, allowing the UK to move from about 30 per cent recovery in 1997 to around 50 per cent in 2001.
"Last year, in particular, saw an excellent performance by other businesses and schemes. I congratulate all of those who have fulfilled their recovery and recycling obligations and contributed to the UK''s Packaging Waste Directive obligations."
"As a result of this non-compliance by one of the UK''s largest schemes, I will look at the Regulations and discuss these with my colleagues in the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Executive to see whether there are any changes needed to ensure that our unique system can operate effectively and deliver the UK targets."
Notes for Editors
The UK introduced the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations in 1997 (as amended). The Regulations place on certain businesses three main obligations: (1) to register with the Environment Agency and provide data on the packaging handled by the business in the previous year (regulation 3(5)(a)); (2) to take reasonable steps to recover and recycle packaging waste, calculated as provided in Schedule 2 to the Regulations (regulation 3(5)(b)(i)); and (3) to certify that the necessary recovery and recycling has been carried out (regulation 3(5)(b)(ii)). In addition, consumer information obligations are placed on businesses that sell packaging to the final user or consumer.
Regulation 3(6) provides that the recovery and recycling obligations of producers are to enable the UK to attain the recovery and recycling targets for Member States in article 6(1) of Directive 94/62/EC - the Packaging Waste Directive.
Any business handling more than 50 tonnes of packaging and with financial turnover of more than #2 million will be obligated if it performs one or more of the following activities: manufacturing raw materials for packaging; converting materials into packaging; filling packaging; selling packaging to the final user; importing packaging or packaging materials into the UK.
The activity obligations associated with each of these activities are: raw material manufacturing 6 per cent; converting 9 per cent; pack/filling 37 per cent; selling 48 per cent.
The majority of companies who are covered by the regulations are members of compliance schemes in order to discharge their obligations to recover and recycle packaging waste.
The regulations are designed to increase recycling of packaging waste. Broadly speaking, businesses covered by the regulations are asked to:
1. Register with an agency, provide them with data about packaging which goes through their business and calculate a recycling obligation.
2. Carry out that recycling obligation.
3. Provide evidence that they have done it.
The compliance scheme may also be involved in the physical recovery of packaging waste, such as cardboard boxes or pallets, used in the production process, and sale to reprocessing firms.
Public Enquiries: 08459 335577 Press Notices available via DEFRA website http://www.defra.gov.uk
Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR
