Voluntary Protocol to Boost Confidence in UK Plastic Packaging Waste Recycling
19 January 2006
To improve the transparency and accurate auditing of plastics packaging waste recycling in the UK, a Plastics Protocol was announced by Lord Bach of Lutterworth at a Defra conference on the amended Packaging Regulations, held in London this week.
Supported and funded by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme), the Protocol has been developed by the Plastics Task Force (a group made up of representatives from the plastic packaging waste reprocessing and export sectors), in conjunction with the Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP). It forms part of the response to issues raised in Defra's Plastics Packaging Waste Fact Finding Mission Report, which uncovered a significant amount of inappropriate behaviour in the declaration of plastics PRNs.
The purpose of the Protocol is to improve the operation of the PRN/PERN system and to provide enhanced confidence in the reported level of UK plastics packaging waste recycling in the UK. It aims to achieve this by providing clear guidance on the accurate identification and quantification of plastics packaging waste destined for recycling and the creation of documented audit trails.
It can be used by reprocessors/exporters to demonstrate that they are meeting the accreditation requirements, or by suppliers to satisfy their customers that the PRNs/PERNs issued are genuine.
ACP Chairman John Turner, said
“The Committee is delighted that we have been able to generate this document which has relevance right across the plastics recycling industry. We hope the Protocol is taken up by the industry, compliance schemes and regulators as an important part of their processes."
Initially, the Protocol will be operated on a voluntary basis but it is intended that the key elements of it should become mandatory under future revision to the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2005 and Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations (Northern Ireland )1999 and amendments.
Welcoming the development, Dr Paul Davidson, WRAP’s Material Sector Manager for Plastic, said:
“WRAP was pleased to support the Protocol because any initiative to combat fraud can only be a positive development for UK plastics recycling in the long term."
The purpose of the Protocol is to improve the operation of the PRN/PERN system and to provide enhanced confidence in the reported level of UK plastics packaging waste recycling in the UK. It aims to achieve this by providing clear guidance on the accurate identification and quantification of plastics packaging waste destined for recycling and the creation of documented audit trails.
It can be used by reprocessors/exporters to demonstrate that they are meeting the accreditation requirements, or by suppliers to satisfy their customers that the PRNs/PERNs issued are genuine.
ACP Chairman John Turner, said
“The Committee is delighted that we have been able to generate this document which has relevance right across the plastics recycling industry. We hope the Protocol is taken up by the industry, compliance schemes and regulators as an important part of their processes."
Initially, the Protocol will be operated on a voluntary basis but it is intended that the key elements of it should become mandatory under future revision to the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2005 and Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations (Northern Ireland )1999 and amendments.
Welcoming the development, Dr Paul Davidson, WRAP’s Material Sector Manager for Plastic, said:
“WRAP was pleased to support the Protocol because any initiative to combat fraud can only be a positive development for UK plastics recycling in the long term."
Editor's notes:
- WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) is a major UK programme established to promote resource efficiency. Its particular focus is on creating stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products and removing the barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.
- A not-for-profit company, WRAP is backed by substantial Government funding from Defra and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Under its current Business Plan 2004-06, WRAP is running fifteen programmes. Twelve of them relate to market development, comprising nine material streams (Paper, Plastics, Glass, Wood, Organics, Aggregates, Tyres, Batteries and Plasterboard) and three generic areas (Business & Finance, Procurement, and Regional Market Development). Three further programmes relate to the wider resource efficiency remit - Collections, Communications and Awareness, and Waste Minimisation.
- The Plastics Task Force comprises:
John Turner (ACP Chair)
British Plastics Federation
BPF Recycling Council Ltd
British Polythene Industries plc
Chase Plastics
Choice Waste Management Ltd
DEFRA
Environment Agency
Environment & Heritage Service, Northern Ireland
LINPAC Plastics Recycling Ltd
Packaging and Industrial Films Association (PIFA)
Recoup
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
WRAP - More information on all of WRAP’s programmes can be found at www.wrap.org.uk
Press Office
Media Relations Manager
WRAP,
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Tel: 01295 819928
press.office@wrap.org.uk
Paul Davidson
Material Sector Manager (Plastic)
WRAP,
The Old Academy,
21 Horse Fair,
Banbury
OX16 0AH
Tel: 01295 819913
paul.davidson@wrap.org.uk
