§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the current review of packaging regulations will cover the benefits for supermarkets from their back of store waste and the effects of such benefits on others in the packaging chain. [61499]
§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to increase retailers' obligations under the packaging and waste regulations. [61636]
§ Mr. MealeThe review of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 covered a range of issues as set out by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment (Mr. Meacher) in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien) on 17 December 1997,Official Report, columns 193–94.
Each of the four main sectors may have back-door waste to some extent. Those businesses that do have such waste are likely to use it towards the discharge of their obligations. Retailers are likely to have larger quantities of back-door waste than other businesses, but will incur costs in making that material available. They also carry a higher share of the burden. A share-out of the burden between industry sectors was agreed on the 15 December 1995, and that industry agreement is the basis of the present Regulations. Each sector's "activity" obligations in the regulations are:
54W
Sector 15 December 1995 Agreed share of the burden % Activity obligation in the Regulations % Raw Material Manufacturer 5.5 6 Convertor 14.5 11
Sector 15 December 1995 Agreed share of the burden % Activity obligation in the Regulations % Packer/Filler 35 36 Sellers/Retailers 45 47