Packaging Regulations Updated

The Parliament has pushed through an amendment to the Packaging Regulations to prevent missing packaging recycling target for metals. The updated regulations will provide a greater sense of clarity for businesses while eliminating “unnecessary administrative burden”

Some have expressed concerns about the amendment, saying that the changes might decrease overseas environmental standards while favouring the metal packaging sector.

Before the amendment was passed in Parliament, Climate Change and Waste Minister Joan Ruddock spoke before the Twelfth Delegated Legislation Committee of the House of Commons saying that the update was nothing more than a mere “technical change” to the existing Packaging Regulations.

“It would give more discretion to the Environment Agency in deciding whether packaging sent abroad is recycled to standards “broadly equivalent” to the UK and therefore eligible for recycling evidence,” she explained.

Mrs. Ruddock believes that the amendment is particularly important for the metals sector, especially because metal is typically traded through brokers, a transaction that makes it difficult to “obtain evidence of equivalence”. It is also important because the high value of metals cause PRN revenues to seem less attractive.

She explained that this would help the UK meet its European packaging recycling targets for 2008, which were “at risk” of being missed (see letsrecycle.com story).

She said: “We are confident that the metals are going to the right places and are being handled in broadly equivalent, modern facilities.”

“These regulations will provide greater clarity for businesses and remove any unnecessary administrative burden,” she added.

For more information on Packing Regulations, log on to: defra.gov.uk/Environment/waste/topics/packaging