A new group, The Packaging Recycling Group Scotland (PRGS), has been established to help the Scottish Government boost recycling, it was announced yesterday (20 February) at the Safeguarding Scotland’s Resources Conference in Edinburgh.
The group, formed of organisations and companies from the food and drinks packaging supply chain including Coca-Cola and the British Plastics Federation,aims to work ‘positively and collaboratively’ with the Scottish Government, its agencies and local authorities in order to: raise recycling awareness; increase recycling rates; and provide ‘partnership support’ for waste reduction and anti-littering programmes.
It iscurrently contributing to the Scottish Government’s review of producer responsibility obligations for packaging materials, and its exploration of alternative options for the future.
Speaking of the formation of the group, PRGS Co-ordinator Ian Shearer, said: “We have strong support – almost 30 organisations now – with a collective desire to work more closely with key bodies on these objectives. A collaborative strategic approach, with a willingness to share knowledge and best practice, and develop partnership solutions, is the right way forward.
“PRGS is well-positioned to harness the expertise and enthusiasm for progress presented by an unprecedented coalition of market-leading manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and trade organisations – representing businesses large and small – with a proven track record of supporting Scottish recycling.”
Shearer confirmed that representatives of the newly formed group had already held informal discussions with Environment Secretary, Richard Lochhead, and thinks the Scottish Government is sending out a ‘clear message’ that recycling is a priority with its ‘zero waste ambitions and 2025 recycling targets.
He added: “There is now an opportunity for Government and Zero Waste Scotland to forge a distinctly Scottish new partnership model to help leave a sustainable legacy for future generations, building on the significant progress and innovation in recycling of the last 10 years. PRGS is committed to supporting such an approach.”
PRGS was presented at the ‘Safeguarding Scotland’s Resources’ conference in Edinburgh, where Anders Linde, former Chair of the Industry Council for Research on Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN) and now Managing Director of Beverage Can Makers Europe, spoke on behalf of the new group.
Also at the conference Lochhead announced the launch of the Scottish Recycling Fund, a £3.8 million fund established by Zero Waste Scotland and Scottish Enterprise to provide loans for businesses developing waste infrastructure proposals.
Find out more about PGRS.
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
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.