HC Deb 18 November 1998 vol 319 cc673-4W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce changes to the Packaging Waste Regulations. [60171]

Mr. Meale

A consultation document on the review of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997, was issued on 30 July this year and the consultation period ended on 30 September. We are currently considering the responses and expect to make an announcement on the way-forward in December. Any statutory changes to the Regulations will be subject to Parliamentary approval.

Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the operation of the Packaging Waste Regulations 1997 on the independent waste paper processing industry. [60488]

Mr. Meacher

A consultation document on the review of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997, was issued on 30 July this year and the consultation period ended on 30 September.

There were a number of responses to the Consultation Paper from independent waste paper processors, including the Independent Waste Paper Processors Association, which represents one hundred and three members. Their concerns have been noted and will be taken into consideration when a final decision on the Review is reached. The Government intend to make an announcement on the way forward soon.

Dr. Marek

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the compliance costs are under the packaging waste regulations for(a) typical major food retailers and (b) packaging manufacturers. [60338]

Mr. Meale

It is difficult at this stage to estimate the costs faced by a typical business or by different parts of the packaging chain. For the purposes of the Regulations, obligated businesses must identify which sector they are in, but they may perform more than one activity with respect to packaging. There are however, a number of implicit costs associated with compliance, including: initial registration; annual collection and supply of data, calculation of recovery and recycling obligations; facilitating sufficient recovery and recycling of packaging waste to meet obligations and obtaining supporting evidence of compliance and submitting a certificate of compliance. The compliance costs will also be determined by the amount of obligation facing each company.

The Regulations share the obligation to recover and recycle target levels of packaging waste between the four main sectors in the packaging chain according to the "activity" performed with regard to packaging and on the percentages agreed by industry on 15 December 1995. The "activity" obligations in the Regulations are: Raw materials manufacturer 6 per cent. Convertor 11 per cent. Packer/filler 36 per cent. Seller 47 per cent.

The costs faced by retailers or packaging manufacturers will depend on the product range including the range of materials handled, the size of the firm and the ease with which packaging waste can be recovered and data obtained. Consequently, we are unable to distinguish between the relative costs faced by firms in different sectors of the packaging chain.

The consultation paper on the review of the Regulations issued on 30 July included a draft Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). This asked businesses to provide the Department with some further information on costs. Revisions will be made and a further RIA will be produced when the Regulations are amended.