Recycle Wales, part of the Wastepack Group, has become the first packaging waste compliance scheme to register with environmental regulator Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
This means obligated businesses in Wales can now become part of a scheme governed by Welsh environmental policy.
The Wastepack Group acquired Recycle Wales in 2011
Previously, Welsh businesses had to register with compliance schemes regulated by bodies from elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
John Rock, producer responsibility team leader at NRW, said: “As a society, we all have a responsibility for the amount of waste we create and dispose of.
“Companies who handle large volumes of packaging waste are obligated to make a financial contribution towards packaging recycling costs.
“Packaging waste compliance schemes help these companies register as packaging producers and meet their recycling obligations.
“We’re pleased to have Recycle Wales on board as the first compliance scheme registered in Wales to offer this service.”
The WastepackGroup acquired Recycle Wales for an undisclosed sum in September 2011 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Compliance schemes
Obligated companies have a legal responsibility to register with the relevant environmental agency and pay towards the recovery and recycling of the packaging they place on the market.
“We’re pleased to have Recycle Wales on board as the first compliance scheme registered in Wales to offer this service”
Alternatively, companies can register with a packaging producer compliance scheme, which takes on the legal obligations imposed by the packaging waste legislation on the company’s behalf.
Packaging waste compliance schemes ensure companies are able comply with their legal recycling and recovery obligations under packaging waste regulations.
Enforcement of the packaging regulations is undertaken by each of the devolved administrations’ environmental regulators.
In October 2019 then environment minister Theresa Villiers was forced to defend the system before the Environmental Audit Committee against claims it led to less environmentally friendly waste disposal practices (see letsrecycle.com story).
Devolution
Recycle Wales is part of the Wastepack Group of Companies, which operates compliance schemes across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Lynne Cullis, chief executive officer of the Wastepack Group, said: “We are delighted that Recycle Wales has become the first compliance scheme to be registered with Natural Resource Wales.
“It is important that each of the UK’s devolved administrations all have their own packaging waste schemes.
“We all understand that waste packaging is largely seen as a national issue spread across the entire United Kingdom, but situations do differ from region to region and working with regulators that operate on a local level is vital to ensuring that the aspirations of the UK’s wider environmental strategies are met.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Packaging
