Farming

Farming

Packaging waste

Packaging waste should be kept to a minimum because of the risk of pollution and the need to reduce the amount of material being buried in landfill sites. Packaging materials include plastics, paper, glass and metals.

There are four key issues regarding packaging waste:

  • reducing packaging
  • reusing and recycling packaging
  • disposing of packaging
  • packaging regulations

If your business handles more than 50 tonnes of packaging waste and has a turnover in excess of £2million then there are certain obligations you must meet under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations.

For further details on these see the Packaging Regulations section below.

Reducing packaging

Cutting down on packaging requirements will reduce the need for disposal. A number of tips are available in Defra’s Saving money by reducing waste – Waste minimisation manual: a practical guide for farmers and growers (725 KB)

The manual includes tips such as ordering larger-sized containers and finding out whether your product supplier offers a container/packaging take-back service.

A paper version can be ordered (free of charge) from Defra Publications, telephone 0845 955 6000.

Reusing and recycling packaging

The Waste Recycling Directory is an on-line service where you can enter your postcode and find contact details of local waste recycling centres.

Plastics and other waste packaging can also be reused. For example, last year’s silage sheet can be utilised for lining the clamp shoulder or as a groundsheet.

There are greater opportunities for recycling packaging if it is kept clean.

Disposing of packaging

If your business produces waste packaging you have a legal ‘Duty of Care,’ see Defra’s Waste – Duty of Care (PDF document, 216K) for further details.

The Duty of Care applies to everyone involved in handling the waste. If you give your waste to someone else (for example a waste contractor) it is your duty to make sure that:

  • the person is authorised to take it – ask them for evidence
  • the waste goes to a proper site – licensed or exempt
  • you give the receiver a transfer note this needs to include a description of the waste and be signed by both of you; you will need to keep copies of your transfer notes for a minimum of 2 years

More detail on handling waste, including packaging, is contained in the Environment Agency (EA) summary Waste –you can handle it (PDF document, 67K).

Further guidance on making sure you stay within the law when dealing with your packaging waste can be found in Defra’s Waste Management: The Duty of Care: a code of practice (PDF document, 238K).

Free paper copies of this leaflet can be ordered from Defra Publications, telephone 08459 556 000.

Packaging regulations

There are set targets to reduce packaging waste and encourage reuse and recycling under the EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste. To meet these, the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations have been introduced.

The Packaging Regulations cover businesses that handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging waste, have a turnover in excess of £2 million and are involved in any of the following:

  • manufacturing raw materials for packaging – raw material manufacturer
  • converting raw materials into packaging – convertor
  • filling packaging (i.e. putting goods or products into packaging) – pack/filler
  • selling packaged goods to the final user (which can be other businesses or the public) – seller

The Packaging Regulations require these businesses to register with the Environment Agency (EA) and recover and recycle specified tonnages of packaging waste each year.

If you think your business may have to comply with the Producer Responsibility Obligations you should contact the Environment Agency’s National Waste Registration Unit who will be able to advise you. netregs.gov.uk

If you are obligated under the Regulations you can choose  to register directly with the Environment Agency and carry our your obligations yourself, or join a registered compliance scheme, which will take on your obligations and discharge them for you.

Regardless of the route you choose, evidence of compliance is demonstrated through the purchasing of evidence notes, either by yourselves, or by your compliance scheme.  Further information can be found in the Packaging Waste Booklet.

Purchasing evidence

To demonstrate that the required amount of recovery and recycling has been carried out, the producer (or a compliance scheme on his behalf) must purchase evidence of compliance from an accredited re-processor or an accredited exporter.

These businesses will issue Packaging Waste Recovery Notes (PRNs) and Packaging Waste Export Recovery Notes (PERNs.) In order to issue PRNs and PERNs, re-processors and exporters must be accredited by the EA.

Joining a registered compliance scheme

The scheme will take on your legal business obligations and make sure you comply. For information about compliance schemes in your area, contact the EA’s National Waste Registration Unit, telephone 020 7091 4036.

Additional information on the Directive and its implementation is contained in Defra’s UK implementation of the Packaging Directive.

To check whether your business is complying with packaging regulations, see Defra’s ‘Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2005’ (PDF document, 259K).

Useful links:

External

Further information

Defra helpline – 08459 335 577 (local call rate)

Environment Agency customer contact centre – 08708 506 506

Environment Agency National Waste Registration Unit - 020 7091 4036

Page last modified: 1 October 2008

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs