‘NO CLEAR CASE’ FOR PRN INTERVENTIONS, ACP SAYS

The minutes were published on the National Packaging Waste Database and were from the 1 November ACP meeting held at Re-Gen Waste’s Northern Ireland facility.

The group, which advises government on policy development on packaging recycling, heard a presentation which said it had been “difficult to assess the issues that are leading to reduced availability/ high prices of PRN/PERNs”.

The minutes noted that some concern was expressed over the reasons for the reduction in glass ‘other’ (aggregate) being hard to discern. However, “members concluded that there was not a clear case for proposing specific interventions, rather it was felt that the group should keep the compliance position and PRN market under review.”

The record high PRN prices in 2022 led to more fears over noncompliance, after a similar picture in 2021 meant many did not comply.

The high prices being recorded have also drawn criticism from producers, most notably the British Beer and Pub Association on 15 February, which called for the government to intervene.

Glass

Members and Defra officials did however, according to the minutes, provide some theories as to why glass aggregate availability levels are low. This is believed to be related to changes in the amount of waste being generated, as well as a downturn in construction activity (and a drop in demand for aggregates).

Higher energy prices have also lead to increased processing costs, the group heard.

The EA responded to concerns, the minutes said, “reporting work being done to look at outputs and tonnage that has been evidenced, as well as looking at trends across quarterly data, to investigate significant discrepancies”.

Defra also “noted precedent of ACP to issue a statement regarding the compliance position”.

However, it was agreed that no announcement of a departure from current requirements in the regulations was required and that all producers/schemes are expected to take all reasonable endeavours to achieve compliance.

Acp

The ACP is designed to bring together industry expertise with a specific interest in packaging and packaging waste to advise and make recommendations to government to assist with their policy development on packaging reuse, recovery and recycling.

Members represent various parts of the packaging chain, including businesses which have legal obligations under the Producer Responsibility Obligations as well as others who are involved in the management of packaging waste – local authorities, compliance schemes, waste management companies, reprocessors and exporters.