§ Dr. WhiteheadTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many prosecutions of eligible companies failing to register under the terms of the packaging recovery note provisions have taken place since the scheme was introduced; [57602]
(2) how many companies have registered under the terms of the packaging recovery note provisions in each of the years of its operation. [57601]
§ Mr. MealeUnder the provisions of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 eligible businesses have obligations to
to register with the relevant Environment Agency (Environment Agency or Scottish Environment Protection Agency) or join a registered compliance scheme, provide packaging data, and pay a fee by a specified date (1 April);to recover and recycle specified tonnages of packaging waste and to certify to the relevant Agency that the recovery and recycling obligations have been complied with. The obligation to recover and recycle packaging waste took effect from 1 January 1998 and evidence of compliance with the 1998 targets must be submitted by 31 January 1999.Obligated businesses are able to demonstrate compliance with the Regulations by obtaining a Packaging Waste Recovery Note (PRN) from an accredited reprocessor or by following the alternative approach to compliance set out in the Agencies' guidance. So far the Environment Agency has approved 191 companies as accredited reprocessors.
The Environment Agencies have a duty to monitor compliance with the Regulations. Businesses that fail to comply with the Regulations may be subject to prosecution by the Agencies. The Environment Agency views particularly seriously the non-registration of obligated businesses. The Environment Agency is carrying out a programme of visits and follow-up inquiries to companies which it believes may need to be registered. Where this has been established, the business has registered.
However, the Agency's announcement of 23 October, copies of which are being placed in the Library, clearly warns businesses that prosecutions will now follow after a 7 November deadline for 1998 registrations.
In 1997 there were 3,839 businesses registered under the terms of the Regulations. In 1998 there are 3,813 registrations to date. When account is taken of the subsidiary businesses covered by the registration of a group of companies, the number of businesses covered by registration is 8,832 businesses.