Waste industry associations have unanimously backed higher packaging recycling targets for some materials in response to a consultation by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
Industry bodies including the Environmental Services Association (ESA), Resource Association, Wood Recyclers Association, Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) and Alupro have reacted positively to proposals to raise packaging recycling targets each year from 2018 to 2020.
(l-r) Targets for wood, paper, recovery and aluminium packaging are to be considered by Defra, as well as steel
Defra has outlined three options for the targets to 2020 in its consultation. These include keeping them at 2017 levels through to the end of the decade or adopting tiered increases for aluminium, steel, paper and wood from 2018. (To see the options in detail click here)
The consultation does not apply to glass or plastics packaging targets up to 2020, which have already been set.
ESA
In its response, ESA has advised that Defra adopts Option 2, which provides the steepest rise in paper, wood and steel target. However it adds that Option 3’s higher aluminium target of 64% by 2020 should also be considered.
In spite of its optimism, ESA has expressed concerns that the current packaging recovery note (PRN) system is unlikely to deliver much higher recycling targets and needs to be reformed. The association has also labelled the current reporting system for tonnages placed on the market (POM) is ‘suboptimal’ following a report into paper and wood packaging flows by WRAP in 2016 (see letsrecycle.com story).
“Given the proportion of paper in the waste stream any changes that affect the PRN value of this stream will have significant implications for the whole recycling supply chain.”
Environmental Services Association
And on changes to the paper target, ESA cautions: “Given the proportion of paper in the waste stream any changes that affect the PRN value of this stream will have significant implications for the whole recycling supply chain, not least in revenue sharing arrangements with local authorities.”
Resource Association
The Resource Association has meanwhile advised Defra to adopt higher targets to incentivise collection of ‘difficult’ packaging materials predominantly from municipal waste stream.
The Association similarly recommends Option 2 but like ESA has endorsed the higher 64% aluminium recycling target from the third option. The Association has backed the highest available wood packaging target, arguing that a higher proportion of existing wood PRNs would go towards the increased material specific target rather than the ‘general recycling’ pot.
The response notes: “Wood PRN prices are now so low that reprocessors who were previously accredited have decided not to continue. Although they still recycle packaging waste, their tonnage will not be recorded through the National Packaging Waste Database.
“In addition, small scale biomass plants generally target cleaner wood which incorporates packaging. This wood would therefore be classed as recovery and not as packaging recycling.”
“Increasing targets would increase the overall wood packaging recycling and would mean a higher proportion of existing wood PRNS would go towards the increased material specific target.”
Julia Turner, executive director
Wood Recyclers Association
WRA
In a statement regarding its own response to the consultation, the Wood Recyclers Association has likewise urged Defra to increase the wood target in order to incentivise reprocessors to become accredited to issue PRNs.
Julia Turner, executive director of WRA, believes the industry is already recycling more packaging than is officially recorded. “Increasing targets would increase the overall wood packaging recycling and would mean a higher proportion of existing wood PRNS would go towards the increased material specific target, rather than towards general recycling,” she said. “We welcome the option presented by DEFRA to increase the targets on a sliding scale over the three year period.”
CPI
The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI), which represents 70 members involved in the recycling and reprocessing of waste paper, has also recommended implementing the highest recycling targets available for its sector via Option 2.
However, CPI has cautioned there needs to be greater emphasis on quality in paper recycling. It forecasts that with amendments to protocols in 2015 – which have increased the packaging fraction of a tonne of mixed paper from 12.5% to 23% – paper packaging recycling rate could be close to 85% in 2017.
“As the paper and board recycling rates approaches 90%, it seems logical to place greater emphasis on the quality of material recovered rather than quantity alone.”
The Confederation of Paper Industries
CPI adds: “As the paper and board recycling rates approaches 90%, it seems logical to place greater emphasis on the quality of material recovered rather than quantity alone. It is likely that pressing for the recovery of marginal material could lead to uneconomic collection and cleaning costs.”
Alupro
Representing aluminium reprocessors, Alupro has meanwhile rejected all three options put to the industry by Defra and is calling for new targets to be considered.
Using a ‘roadmap’ assembled by independent consultancy Resource Futures, the association has put forward its own forecast on where aluminium packaging recycling levels are likely to be between 2016 and 2030, arguing more will be recovered from incinerator bottom ash.
However, it warns not enough of its members are accredited to ensure Defra’s staggered recycling levels will necessarily be met by 2020 – and will likely create price volatility for producers attempting to meet their obligations under the new targets.
Alupro has therefore advised adoption Option 3 – which provides the highest target growth for aluminium – but that further consideration is given to increasing this year’s target to ensure more reprocessors become accredited in time for 2018 and 2019.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Metal
