§ Sir Irvine PatnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to meet representatives of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents to discuss the directive on producer responsibility for packaging waste; and if he will make a statement; [3666]
(2) what steps he is taking to mitigate the impact of the directive on producer responsibility on packaging waste on small businesses with particular reference to newsagents; and if he will make a statement. [3665]
§ Mr. ClappisonWe published in July a consultation document and draft regulations which would require businesses in the packaging chain to contribute on a shared basis to the recycling and recovery targets for waste packaging set by the EC directive on packaging and packaging waste. Among other issues, we sought views on the proposed treatment of small businesses that might be affected on such matters as the size of threshold proposed and whether it should be expressed in terms of378W turnover as well as, or in place of, packaging handled and an alternative means of assisting recycling and recovery. The National Federation of Retail Newsagents was one of over 100 trade associations and industry bodies to give us its views. I understand that the federation has also met my officials. We shall take the views of all those concerned into account in considering the final form of regulations.
Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he proposes to report on the packaging waste regulations; and if he will make a statement; [3658]
(2) what replies he has received to the consultation document published by his Department on waste packaging; and if he will make a statement; [3660]
(3) if he will make a statement on the packaging materials currently used by United Kingdom industry; and if he will indicate the percentage of each which require to be recycled to achieve his targets. [3661]
§ Mr. ClappisonMy Department proposes to bring forward the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations for the House to consider in the very near future. On 11 July, we issued for consultation draft proposals to be contained in the regulations; 6,000 copies were circulated, initially to an established list of consultees consisting of businesses, trade bodies, local authorities, consumer groups and individuals. A further 5,000 copies were distributed on request and leaflets summarising the proposal were sent to over 50,000 businesses, together with 8,000 computer discs to illustrate the principles involved. More than 40 events were held with industry and trade bodies to explain the proposals and the role of collective business schemes such as VALPAK. My Department has received 448 responses, of which 100 were from trade bodies from the materials and other sectors most closely concerned, which together represent over 53,000 member businesses.
The principal packaging materials currently used UK industries are glass, paper/board, plastics, aluminium and steel. The United Kingdom is required, by 2001 to have recycled a minimum of 15 per cent. by weight of each material and to recover 50 per cent. of all packaging waste. In practice, most of this is likely to be by materials recycling.