DEFRA have issued a consultation proposing some corrections and technical changes to the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations SI 2005/3468. The plans also set out details for an electronic register, which will include the packaging data which must be submitted to the authorities. There is also a pledge to make companies like Pepsi, who have used a loophole in the Regulations to avoid paying millions in recycling costs, fully responsible as packaging producers. They were previously exempt because they are regarded as a foreign owned company, and the packaging is therefore foreign owned.
Certain flaws in the Regulations have been blamed for the recent collapse in the value of producer responsibility evidence, and particularly packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs). DEFRA are proposing measures which could strengthen the PRN system, and will see reprocessors banned from issuing PRNs when recycling material from their own production processes. In addition, the consultation aims to strengthen the packaging producer responsibility system against possible fraud, by amending auditing requirements so more detail is required from exporters on where they send packaging waste for reprocessing.
This consultation will close on 17 November 2006.
