Defra release long awaited packaging consultations

This morning Defra have released four separate packaging consultations, as promised in the Resources and Waste Strategy last year.

The consultations have a twelve-week timeframe and allow industry to give detailed feedback to government on the proposals that have potential to radically shape the future of packaging producer responsibility, the use of plastic packaging and recycling systems across the UK. The four consultations are outlined below:

Reforming the UK packaging producer responsibility system

The 20-year-old PRN system has been under great scrutiny in recent times and this consultation is seeking views on measures that aim to address the widely recognised problems inherent in the current system, including a lack of transparency, limited financial support for Local Authorities who handle the majority of consumer packaging waste and a lack of a level playing field for domestic reprocessing.

Measures to reduce the amount of unnecessary and difficult to recycle packaging, whilst increasing the amount of packaging that can and is recycled, are included in the consultation.

Proposals to place the full net cost of managing packaging waste on the businesses that use the packaging and are best placed to influence its design are also included, consistent with the producer pays principal.

Consistency in household and business recycling collections in England

This consultation seeks to address the stagnation in household recycling rates and the fact that some local authorities in England do not collect the full range of recyclable materials or food waste separately.

A pertinent issue is also the fact that there are few drivers to encourage local authorities to expand recycling services or for businesses to invest in them.

The need to reduce levels of contamination and improve the quality of collected recycling is also key, with countries like China requiring much higher standards of material.