Liz Gyekye / packagingnews.co.uk
Scottish gov:
Packaging firms should pay for recycling
Packaging companies in Scotland could directly pay for the full costs associated with collecting and recycling packaging waste, according to new proposals set out in a report published by the Scottish government.
It highlights how producer responsibility regimes can also drive waste prevention and reduction.
The report states that although targets exist for the recycling and recovery of packaging waste, in the UK, most of the costs associated with collecting and recycling these materials fall upon local authorities.
The report said: “This, in effect, means that the companies under the regulations effectively avoid financial responsibility for meeting their obligation, reducing any incentive that such financial responsibility might otherwise have had (in terms of waste prevention, for example).
‘Situation reversed’
The Scottish government said that the situation should be “reversed” and companies shoud pay towards the provision of recycling services, then the cost of the system, would be passed on to consumers.
It also said that the consumers of the products would then contribute to the costs of the system through their purchases and then producers and consumers would be financially responsible for the system.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “Local authorities have the main responsibility for dealing with household waste, but manufacturers and retailers also have a responsibility to play their part in preventing waste and encouraging recycling. This report will help us decide how best to ensure responsibilities are shared fairly.
“As Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan is driven forward, there is scope to consider how existing producer responsibility regimes may more effectively influence and improve the management of waste and resources.
“The Scottish Government wants to make recycling packaging and waste electrical equipment as easy as possible for the consumer.
“In some European countries where producer responsibility is applied across a range of products and packaging, around 15% of the cost of managing household waste is funded through support from the producer responsibility schemes.”
‘Nonsense’
Packaging Federation chief executive Dick Searle criticised the actions in the report and told PN that they were “nonsense”. He explained that packaging companies were already taking responsibility for recycling and that the whole supply chain should be assessed, including consumer responsibility. He added that “consumers create the demand for the products in the first place”.
Other actions explored in the report include:
* Scotland-specific targets for packaging recovery calculated to drive local recycling
* Deposit Return Schemes for drinks packaging
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