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Resource Association Asks Government For A Level Playing Field

14 February 2012

The Resource Association has responded to the Government consultation on Producer Responsibility Obligations for packaging by supporting the Governments' proposed higher targets

The Association, however, expressed concern about the operation of the PRN/PERN system in relation to UK reprocessors, particularly of plastics and glass.

The Association called for reforms of the PERN system to encourage greater investment in UK reprocessing by reducing the built in advantage the system generates for the export of recovered mixed plastics.

The Association also welcomed the split target approach to glass to focus attention on remelt applications, but suggested that the Government should go beyond a "cap" for issuing of PRNs for glass tonnage diverted to aggregates by phasing out PRNs for aggregates by 2017.

Resource Association chief executive, Ray Georgeson, said: "Addressing the imbalances created by the PERN system, however, remains an important outstanding issue. The Government could take the opportunity to send a strong investment signal to UK reprocessors, especially in plastics, by lowering the PERN value for exported mixed plastics to 60 percent of the weight of mixed plastics exported. This would help deliver a level playing field for UK reprocessors, who can only issue a PRN for the weight of reprocessed material they actually produce, which because of the often contaminated nature of the material can be as low as 50 percent of the incoming feedstock."

"If the Government is serious about supporting the emerging UK green economy, this is a strong and simple measure that could be taken in the Budget. A level playing field is all that UK reprocessors ask for, and this will send a strong signal that will boost investment in UK reprocessing, creating green jobs in our economy and utilising valuable resources closer to home."

www.resourceassociation.com

Darrel Moore