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Proposed Packaging Regulations Not Doing Their Job
9 October 1996
. The Directive specifies that reuse packaging should become packaging waste when its reuse life is over and then should be subject to recycling. The proposed UK plan,however, says that reuse packaging need not be recycled.
. The UK draft proposal excludes wood packaging. There is no provision however for the exclusion of wood packaging in the Directive.
. In the current proposal, if a business attempts unsuccessfully to get its packaging waste reprocessed it commits no offence. The Directive, however, requires countries to take the necessary measures to recover collected packaging waste. This puts the onus on Government to make sure enough reprocessing capacity is made available,and implies that this loophole should be closed.
Anna Thomas, Waste Campaigner of Friends of the Earth said:
"These proposals have been drawn up by a series of very cosy talks between industry and Government, and look what we've got. Not only have they backtracked on previous promises and set targets at the absolute legal minimum, but they might not even be within EU law - and presumably are hoping nobody will notice. The packaging industry should wake up to the benefits of getting ahead of the game, instead of constantly dragging its feet."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations - A Consultation Paper, Department of the Environment, July 1996. The consultation period ended on 30 September
[2] European Parliament and Council Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste, 94/62/EC
[3] Enclosed: Friends of the Earth's response to the consultation on the Regulations
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Sep 2008
