New rules for packing and plastics

Packaging recycling is a complex issue and subject to increasing regulations and guidelines at both a national and European level.

A major change in the UK is the introduction of extended Packaging Return Notes to encompass both manufacturers as well as increasing the levy on brand owners, the users of packaging. PRN’s effectively fund recycling and the Government is proposing a tenfold increase from around £250 million to £2.5 billion. Whilst there is strong resistance to increases of this order, there is likely to be a massive increase to the funds available for recycling by 2023, when new legislation is likely to be introduced.

This is important because the residual value of spent packaging can be nil but varies very much from material to material…as an example, the price of old corrugated cases has recently increased by over 50% to around $200 per tonne.

The industry is currently in discussion with Defra over this and also the unification of around 170 different waste collection schemes across the UK into one single set of standards and guidelines, so that unified solutions can be applied at a national level.

Added to this, Defra have recently issued a consultation document banning the use of single use plastics (SUPs) but sadly, this only applies to polystyrene, notably expanded polystyrene. EPS is that horrible material which creates so much jetsam and flotsam litter. ERA supports this initiative but feels it should be extended to a wider range of SUPs.

It would be impractical to ban the majority of SUPs. However it is important that we legislate against them with financial penalties against manufacturers and/or users.

Plastic coated board based materials are a more sustainable alternative to SUPs but currently the EU includes board based materials with a plastics content of more than 5% in its definition of SUPs. The carton industry wants this to be increased to 15% to include coated boards used for ready meals.

ERA has responded to the Defra consultation document and recommends the banning of EPS and PS, legislation involving financial penalties against a wider range of SUPs, a change in the definition of SUPs to exclude coated board materials with a plastics content of up to 15% and unification of waste collection schemes to a single set of standards and guidelines.