Consultation on recycling targets for packaging for 2008 and thereafter
Producer Responsibility Unit
Defra
Floor 6, Area D
Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London SW1P 2AL
11 October 2007
Dear Consultee
Consultation on packaging targets for 2008 and thereafter
We are pleased to invite you to participate in the consultation on proposed increases to the targets for recovery and recycling of packaging waste.
Background
The Packaging Directive sets minimum recycling and recovery rates for packaging waste for 2008, which then have to be sustained over the following years. The UK must achieve the Directive targets by 31 December 2008 and thereafter it will have to ensure that at least this level of recovery and recycling is sustained.
Since the introduction of the UK Packaging Regulations in 1997, the level of packaging waste recovery has increased significantly but more can still be done. The Government sees an increase in the recovery of packaging waste as an essential part of its strategy, in particular, of meeting and exceeding landfill diversion targets, increasing the diversion of commercial waste from landfill, and increasing recycling and energy recovery from waste, using a mix of technologies; and in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Packaging Directive is implemented through a system of ‘producer responsibility. This mechanism encourages ‘producers’ to reduce packaging and consequently the cost of their obligations to contribute to the overall cost of recycling and recovering packaging waste. The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 (the Regulations) translate the EU targets into a set of UK targets which reflect the UK packaging markets and waste arisings so that the UK, as a whole, meets the Directive targets.
The consultation paper reviews the existing UK targets for 2008 to assess whether they will deliver the targets in the EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste that the UK has to meet by 31 December 2008. It also reviews the existing targets in place for 2009 and 2010 and proposes new targets up to 2012.
The Consultation can be found on the website: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/packaging-reg07/index.htm
Consultation process
This consultation paper is presented by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government. It solely discusses the overall recovery targets, overall recycling and material-specific recycling targets for packaging waste.
The Consultation Document is seeking views on proposals to increase the published targets for recovery and recycling of packaging for 2008-2010 and proposes new targets for 2011-12.
The document is supported by a partial Impact Assessment.
The consultation will start on Monday 8 October 2007 for 8 weeks. Responses should be received no later than Friday 30 November 2007.
The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Consultation notes that ‘a minimum 12 week consultation process is required during the development of policy’. The Code of Practice also says ‘however, there will be exceptional circumstances that require a consultation period of less than 12 weeks’. The compliance year for this regulatory regime starts on 1 January 2008, and in order to give producers and compliance schemes sufficient time to plan, the Government is having a shorter consultation period.
All responses should be sent by email to packaging@defra.gsi.gov.uk, or by post to Producer Responsibility Unit, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Zone 6/D, Ergon House, Horseferry Road, London.
Respondents in Scotland should also send their response to:
Adam Sinclair
Waste & Pollution Reduction Unit
Environment Directorate
The Scottish Executive
1J-N Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
Email: waste.team@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Respondents in Wales should also send their response to:
Owen Venables
Waste Regulation Policy branch
Welsh Assembly Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
Email: owen.venables@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Respondents in Northern Ireland should also send their response to:
Wendy Cooke
Planning and Environmental Policy Group
20-24 Donegall Street
Belfast
BT1 2GP
Email: wendy.cooke@doeni.gov.uk
Please make sure that any email responses are clearly marked ‘Packaging Targets – Consultation Responses’.
In your response, please explain who you are and, where relevant, whom you represent and give your name and appropriate contact details.
In line with Defra’s policy of openness, at the end of the consultation period copies of the responses we receive may be made publicly available through the Defra Information Resource Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Ergon House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR. The information they contain may also be published in a summary of responses.
If you do not consent to this, you must clearly request that your response be treated confidentially. Any confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system in email responses will not be treated as such a request. You should also be aware that there are circumstances in which Defra will be required to communicate information to third parties on request, in order to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations.
Enquiries and Complaints
The Information Resource Centre will supply copies of consultation responses to personal callers or in response to telephone or email requests (tel: 020 7238 6575, email: defra.library@defra.gsi.gov.uk. Where possible, personal callers should give the library at least 24 hours’ notice of their requirements. An administrative charge will be made to cover photocopying and postage costs.
If you have any queries about this consultation you should contact Ian Atkinson by email ian.atkinson@defra.gsi.gov.uk or telephone on 020 7238 4345.
Complaints relating to this consultation should be sent to Marjorie Addo, Defra’s Consultation Co-ordinator, Area 7C Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.
Government consultation guidelines can be found at www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully
Ian Atkinson
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Page published: 11 October 2007