UK plastic packaging recycling misses national target by 40,000 tonnes << Back to Main News Page Added: Wednesday, 11 May 2005 The packaging recycling figures for 2004 have now been published. As predicted by Recoup, plastics has fallen short of its target for recycling by around 40kt. This means that some compliance schemes and individual compliers will have failed to comply in 2004. Obligated plastic packaging levels grew by almost 8% last year (and have averaged 5% growth p.a. over the last 3 years). The target for recycling in 2004 was therefore 21.5% of this - a little under 374ktonnes. Actual plastic packaging received for recycling during 2004 was 346.5ktonnes, and PRN/PERNs were issued on 340,382 tonnes. There was a 'carry forward' of 16kt from 2003 into 2004, and there was a carry forward from 2004 into 2005 of 23.5kt. As a result the net position is that plastics fell short of the 2004 target by 40.9kt (11%). For the first time exports have (just) outstripped UK reprocessing of plastic packaging in the year. This is the result of both a substantial increase in exports since 1999 and a steady decline in the reported actual level of UK reprocessing in the same 5-year period. Data notes on published PERN/PRN revenues indicate that this loss of UK competitiveness is despite UK recyclers achieving, on average, higher prices for PRNs between 2001-2003. The differential was £10/t more in 2001; £26/t more in 2002 and had almost disappeared (30p/t) in 2003. No data is available yet for 2004. One unusual point regarding the data: there was a substantial jump in the reported plastic material received for recycling in Q4 2004 (from an average of 82kt per quarter for the previous 3 quarters) up to 99.4kt - this despite December tending to be a quieter month for shipments. Recoup has approached the regulatory agencies for information and has been advised that four newly accredited exported contributed to the growth and that there was at least one significant change in a reprocessor’s Q4 return, which is now being investigated. The shortfall has led to a tightening in the PRN market, with published prices showing significant increases and businesses will see compliance costs for plastics increase in 2005 as a result of a likely shortfall in PRNs and increased recycling targets. Recoup is working with both the regulatory agencies, DEFRA, Wrap and industry stakeholders including the Advisory Committee for Packaging (ACP) and BPF Recycling Council to develop an industry protocol for issuing plastic PRNs and PERNs. The aim of the protocol is to set out clearer standards for recyclers and exporters, to improve record keeping and to strengthen confidence in the market by reducing potential for fraud in the system. See: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/packaging/pdf/summary210305.pdf