The Environment Agency is stepping up its bid to counter illegal activities within the packaging waste system and could cancel some already-issued PRNs.
Any cancellations, which would also include export PRNs, could have significant consequences for compliance schemes who are likely to have paid substantial sums to buy the PRNs and then find them invalid.
It is illegal to issue PRNs based on silage wrap recycling from farms (picture: Shutterstock)
PRNs – packaging waste recovery notes – are issued by reprocessors per tonne for packaging waste recycled and can have a high value. For example, earlier in 2020 the value of a plastic PRN was as high as £350 or more.
The Agency has also told letsrecycle.com that where it identifies non-compliance it will take appropriate action in line with its Enforcement and Sanctions Policy.
Suspension
A spokesperson for the Agency explained: “This may involve the suspension or cancellation of non-compliant operators, effectively removing them from the regime and preventing further issue of illegitimate evidence (PRNs/PERNs). We may also prosecute an operator for offences or require a non-compliant operator to make a waste adjustment to counter any illegitimate evidence issued. Failure to make a waste adjustment may result in escalation of our enforcement response.”
“Failure to make a waste adjustment may result in escalation of our enforcement response.”
Regarding the illegal issuing of PRNs, the spokesperson said: “We are currently reviewing our regulatory role and considering the cancellation of PRNs/PERNs that are generated as a result of non-compliance with regulatory requirements. We have consulted with both the Advisory Committee on Packaging and the Packaging Scheme Forum.”
Export market
Much of the discussion within the packaging waste sector around potential illegal activities has centred on the export market in particular, in 2020. Some in the sector consider that excess export PRNs are being issued and that there may even have been cases of material moved around to different destinations and PRNs issued twice.
Last month, Malcolm Lythgo, head of waste regulation at the Environment Agency expressed concerns about plastics from the agricultural sectors (see letsrecycle.com story). Plastic packaging for some farm products are included in the PRN system but some agricultural films are ineligible. Silage wrap is one major type of farm film plastic which is not eligible. The Agency warned in November that in 2020 it had intercepted “numerous illegal shipments of contaminated agricultural plastic waste, including silage wrap, which were destined for countries around the world” and was targeting those illegally claiming PRNs on the film exports.
Contact information
Anyone with information regarding the illegal export of waste including agricultural plastics can contact the EA’s Illegal Waste Exports team at intelligence@environment-agency.gov.uk or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Plastic
