LEGISLATION


GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCE CHANGES TO PACKAGING WASTE RECOVERY NOTE SYSTEM


Changes to the Packaging Waste Recovery Note (PRN) system to introduce greater transparency were announced on 31st March by Environment Minister Michael Meacher.


Announcing the outcome of the review of the PRN system, he said that he will ask the


Environment Agency to amend their Guidance to require reprocessors, as a condition of accreditation, to be more open about the use to which PRN revenue is put and to make the PRY available to obligated parties only, or to those representing them.


Michael Meacher said: "Obligated businesses are keen to see greater transparency in reprocessors' treatment of PRY revenue so that they know that the resources they are putting in are being used as intended."


The Minister said that he proposed to accept the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Packaging. It is recommended that, as a condition of accreditation, reprocessors should be required to:


provide an annual return to the Agency showing PRY revenue for the previous year, the proportion of PRY revenue passed on to others to develop the collection infrastructure and the proportion directed at developing reprocessing capacity or end-use markets for recycled materials; and


provide details as to what additional capacity is planned and what steps have been taken to develop markets for recyclate.


In addition:


reprocessors are to issue PRNs to obligated parties only or to those representing them; and individual businesses who are obligated members of the packaging cha in and bring waste for reprocessing, should be given first refusal on the PRN when such waste is accepted for reprocessing.


Michael Meacher added;


"I propose to ask the Environment Agency to amend their Guidance accordingly. Reprocessors should therefore make reasonable forward provision for obligated parties who wish to have PRNs and I would expect obligated parties also to do what they can to ensure that the reprocessors are informed as soon as possible about their PRN requirements.


"I will also be asking the Advisory Committee to review the operation of the PRN system in 2001 once the Directive recovery and recycling targets have been met, so as to reconsider the option of making PRNs available to non-obligated parties."


The changes are non-statutory and will be reflected in the revised version of the Agencies' guidance note Guidance on Evidence of Compliance and Voluntary Accreditation of Reprocessors.


The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 came into force on 6 March 1997 and transpose elements of Directive 94/621EC on packaging and packaging waste, including the targets for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste.


The Regulations place on certain businesses obligations to recover and recycle specified tonnages of packaging waste based on the amount of packaging handled by the business. By 2001, at least 50% of packaging waste in the UK will be recovered.


Any business handling more than 50 tonnes of packaging annually and with a turnover of more than £5 million (falling to £2million in 2000) will be obligated if it performs one or more of the following activities: manufacturing raw materials for packaging; converting materials into packaging; filling packaging; selling fi lied packaging; importing packaging/packaging materials.


The activity obligations set out in the regulations are: raw material manufacturing 6%; converting 11 %; pack/filling 36%; selling 47%. Changes to these activity obligations have been proposed and will be subject to consultation.


A review of the Regulations was announced on 5 June 1997 and the details of the issues to be reviewed identified in a Parliamentary Question reply of 17 December 1997. The changes that the Government intends to make were announced in a reply to a Parliamentary Question on 28 January 1999.


The Advisory Committee on Packaging submitted its recommendations on the review issues in a report to Ministers of 24 June 1998. A consultation paper was issued in July 1998 and the consultation period concluded on 30 September. On 22 December 1998 the Advisory Committee submitted further advice to Ministers in a letter from Sir Peter Parker, Chairman, to Michael Meacher.


NEW APPOINTMENT AT ADICHEM UK LIMITED


Adichem UK Ltd. Specialists in Additive sales to the Lubricants Industry, are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. John Freeth as their United Kingdom Sales Manager.


John has held a number of sales positions within the chemical industry, most recently with the Witco Corporation. John will be responsible for the_ extensive range of Rust Preventatives from the Alox Corporation, also Tackifiers and other special products for the Lubricants Industry.


ISSUE 37 • MAY 1999


Hornett Bros. & Co Ltd. are also pleased to announce that with the retirement of their sales representative Mr. Roger Ash bolt, they have concluded an agreement with Adichem Ltd., whereby John Freeth will be representing the Hornett Bros. and DBM Chemicals range of products in the UK.


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