Press Release

UK Paper Packaging Recovery Levels Smash Targets

19th March 2008

Data released from the National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD)1 shows that the UK paper packaging recycling industry has smashed its targets within the Packaging Waste Regulations.

If the 2007 NPWD recovery levels for paper packaging waste are maintained into 2008 then the UK will achieve a recovery rate for UK paper packaging waste of 78% against an EU Directive target of 60%. In terms of UK obligated business performance, the UK achieved a recovery rate of 84% against a 2007 target of just 67%. These figures make a nonsense of the suggested increases in targets for UK paper packaging waste as proposed in the recent Defra consultation and reinforce calls from CPI to consider exempting paper from the Regulatory framework if a robust data collection system can be found to ensure UK compliance with the EU Directive.

Other CPI data sources for paper packaging recovery, HM Revenue and Customs and CPI Mill returns, suggest that significant tonnages of material are being exported outside the Regulatory framework, meaning that the UK is likely to be recovering more paper packaging than is known to Defra. The market led UK packaging regulatory system will always mean that, when targets are reached, the value within the financial mechanism, in this case the PRN and PERN, will fall to a nominal level and that is what is being seen now for paper. This is most likely leading to exporters sending material for reprocessing outside the regulatory system.

Peter Seggie, CPI Recovered Paper Sector Manager, said: “2007 was another bumper year for paper packaging recovery and this is being driven by global demand rather than the Regulatory framework. The PRN/PERN value for paper packaging is just about covering the administrative costs of UK reprocessors and exporters but is not leading to any further investment decision being made on the back of it.” He added: “It is highly likely that the actual recovery level for paper packaging waste against what Defra believes to be flowing into the UK waste stream is much higher than is suggested from the NPWD data. Paper packaging recycling is a huge success story and reinforces paper packaging as a highly effective medium for supply chain environmental management.”

1 National Packaging Waste Database: http://npwd.environment-agency.gov.uk/PublicReports.aspx

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