Higher recycling targets for plastics, aluminium, steel and glass for January 2013 to 2017 were agreed in Parliament yesterday (27 November).
The current regulations, which expire at the end of this year, will by replaced by regulations that would, most notably, see a split target introduced for glass, covering both remelt (the recycling of waste glass packaging or packaging materials using a method that melts the glass before it is re-formed into a product) and aggregates.
According to the draft regulations, producers will have to calculate the amount of glass to be remelted through the following equation: L x B x W = G, where ‘L’ is the amount to the nearest tonne of the glass (whether in the form of packaging or packaging materials) handled in Great Britain by the producer in the preceding year; ‘B’ is the percentage prescribed in relation to the class of producer; and ‘W’ is the percentage prescribed as the recycling by re-melt target for the relevant year (with ‘G’ being the total).
The remelt targets for glass are as follows:
| Year | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 63 |
| 2014 | 63 |
| 2015 | 63 |
| 2016 | 64 |
| 2017 | 64 |
Elsewhere, targets will increase annually by three per cent for aluminium, five per cent for plastic and one per cent for steel. Targets for paper/board and wood will remain constant through the next five years, as will glass.
| Material | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glass | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 |
| Aluminium | 40 | 43 | 46 | 49 | 52 | 55 |
| Steel | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 |
| Paper/Board | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 |
| Plastic | 32 | 37 | 42 | 47 | 52 | 57 |
| Wood | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
The amended packaging targets have concerned many in the industry since they were first announced in May, withDirector of the 360 Environmental website, Phil Conran saying earlier this year that the recycling targets for glass are now ‘impossible’ to reach due to a crackdown on fraud (which has accounted for skewed figures).
Speaking after the release of Q3 figures for 2012, Conran said: ‘The huge fall in [glass] aggregates use raised concerns that the underlying position might have been significantly undermined by PRN (packaging waste recovery note) fraud… These latest figures suggest that the current levels are much more reflective of the real position than the levels in 2011. Whatever the reason for this, it will now make things extremely difficult for Defra as the targets are predicated on much higher assumed levels of recycling and there simply will not be enough for some compliance schemes to meet their targets. This will be the first year this has happened since the system started in 1998.’
Calls for PRN reform have been increasing recently, as more ambitious government recycling targets and increased incidents of PRN fraud have put added pressure to the recycling industry.
Further, the move by China to stop receiving imported unwashed post-consumer plastic from Europe last month led the plastic industry to warn that this will make recycling targets for plastic ‘unrealistic’.
Speaking after China’s announcement, Barry Turner, CEO of The Packaging and Films Association, said: “The new recycling targets, already heavily criticised as unrealistic due to the lack of adequate collection and recycling infrastructure, will fail even sooner than expected if these new developments in the Far East come about.
“This will require a significant investment in Europe to fill the size of the hole created which will require time to develop, but such moves would have a huge impact on the waste industry in the UK, especially when it comes to meeting plastic recycling targets set by Defra.
“With much of the 67 per cent of Britain’s plastic waste being exported to the Far East, particularly China, according to Defra statistics, and the UK already desperately short of plastic collection and recycling facilities, I believe reaching the target of 57 per cent by 2017 will be even more unrealistic and out of touch.”
Read the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2012.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.