Defra is considering an industry proposal to establish a separate body to manage data under the packaging producer responsibility system.

In the wake of finding gaps within statistics on which the system is based, Defra has conceded that better monitoring of data "might make a difference".

In a statement issued to letsrecycle.com, Defra - the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - said the results of the investigation into data problems, launched last year (see letsrecycle.com story), should be available "soon".

It said its Advisory Committee on Packaging "has suggested that data management should be handled by a separate body and we are considering this proposal now".

However, Defra ruled out establishing an independent body to take responsibility for setting recycling targets for different categories of packaging waste.

The Department said: "Any independent body asked to do this job would have to set targets using the same data we use, namely that supplied by industry. What we are looking at is the amount of packaging handled by businesses and only they know that. What is at issue is the accuracy of the data provided. What might make a difference is better/more monitoring of the data supplied by industry."

Targets

Data supplied by industry on the amount of packaging that is used (i.e. placed on the market) each year in the UK is the basis for calculating the industry's recycling targets for packaging materials such as glass, cardboard and plastics.

However, the figures for 2006, which were published by Defra last month, saw the obligated producers claiming to have placed a lot less packaging on the market than had been expected (see letsrecycle.com story).

Commenting on this situation, a spokesman for the Department said: "Data that Defra publishes is only as accurate as the data we are supplied with - and we must count on industry realising that it is better for them overall if they provide accurate data. Most do."

Back in late 2005, Defra actually lowered the annual packaging recovery targets, basing its decision for doing so on the industry-supplied data on packaging usage that has now proved to be somewhat inflated.

If the industry targets are too low heading towards 2008, the UK could be at risk of missing some of its EU Packaging Directive targets. This is because low recycling targets are easier for reprocessors to reach, which means that recycling evidence (known as PRNs) is easily available for producers, and therefore worth a lower value.

Low PRN prices mean less investment from packaging producers is going into UK reprocessing infrastructure, effectively spurring less growth in packaging recovery.

While the UK looks fairly comfortable with the 2008 Packaging Directive targets, except in glass, Europe is expected to review the Directive to set new, higher targets beyond 2008 that could need investment to be made now. In some materials, PRN prices are currently as low as £2 per tonne.

If Defra does decide on a shake-up in the management of data within the UK's producer responsibility system, it said there would have to be a full public consultation "on any alternative approach proposed".

Monitoring

Defra's acknowledgement that better monitoring may be needed appears to slightly contradict its decision in 2005 to reduce the monitoring of smaller producers. The changes allow certain smaller producers to avoid submitting their plans for scrutiny by the authorities. Defra explained: "This is both a simplification measure and a means of reducing the burden on SMEs."

Defra said that the changes did not mean it had dropped the requirement to monitor small producers, "What we have done is change the criterion determining which small producers have to provide a plan".

The Department added that it had nevertheless scrutinised "some 132 operational plans from producers" including some in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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