Industry is invited to comment and respond to the consultation by 6 January 2017.
There are three different scenarios proposed by Defra for the business recycling targets of paper, aluminium, steel, wood, recovery and total recycling. In summary these are:
Option 1: Retain the current targets with a zero increase up to 2020
Option 2: Implement targets that will effectively be a transitional stepping stone towards the Circular Economy objectives and recycling targets that are to be achieved by 2025 and 2030
Option 3: Set new intermediary targets between the above options that are less stretching
In a positive move from DEFRA, they have taken the proactive measure of consulting well ahead of the 2017 budget when government can set the new targets, allowing stakeholders to contribute ideas, feedback and market intelligence about the likely impact of the various proposed scenarios.
Have your say
Ecosurety will be talking to our members, recycling partners and other key stakeholders before the end of the year to share our views and listen to feedback, which will contribute to our official consultation response to government.
Obligated producers can also attend a free packaging compliance webinar on the 15 December at 2pm, where we will be examining the impacts of each of the proposed scenarios. Attendees will be able to share their views and preferences via an online poll that will help to inform our response to Defra – please sign up here.
Reprocessors meanwhile can attend a free webinar on the 15 December at 11am that will explore the impacts to industry. This will also include a poll of reprocessor views to inform our response - please sign up here.
Alternatively, you can contact us directly by email to share your views on packaging@ecosurety.com.
A great opportunity
With lots of changes happening within the sector over the coming years, these proposals are a great opportunity for business to forward plan. It also helps develop continuity in recycling targets which support some of the Circular Economy objectives.
This comes with a caveat however; as long as the UK continues to support the Circular Economy Package and also how the Great Repeal Bill influences current legislation derived from Europe. Please keep an eye on our news pages to hear about our response to the proposals.
Useful links
On 22 November, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted in favour of a position paper concerning EU-wide rules aiming to increase the reuse and recycling of packaging.
Read More >>The UK’s largest flexible plastic household collection and recycling pilot, FPF FlexCollect expands into two new local authorities – Reading Borough Council and North Hertfordshire Council.
Read More >>Every year the four devolved nations set packaging waste recycling targets that inform the amount of recycling evidence – or PRN/PeRNs – producers buy to fulfil their obligations.
Read More >>
