Warning over composite packaging proposals

Coalition proposals that aim to exclude composite packaging from data used to calculate obligations on aluminium packaging recycling could encourage much more to be used, stakeholders have warned.

Last December, Defra launched its consultation on targets for new packaging recycling from 2013 to 2017. This includes no longer counting composite packaging that contains aluminium - including tetra-pak or toothpaste tubes, from which it can be incredibly hard to extract any aluminium for recycling – when putting together aluminium’s overall waste arising figure.

The idea is to bring Britain in line with other countries around Europe while making the EU’s recycling targets on aluminium considerably easier to meet. Defra defines composite packaging as containing more than one material while not being easy to separate with hands.

In consultation responses that were issued last week, it was warned by the Environmental Services Association – representative of waste management companies - and Environment Exchange that these moves might have a damaging effect. A strong disagreement with the proposal was voiced by the ESA, because packaging regulations intend to create legislative frameworks along the lines of the producer or polluter having to pay – which is worrying for them as composite materials are more expensive and difficult to recycle.

Matthew Farrow, ESA’s director of policy, said that his organisation is taking composite products away from the scheme as they are a lot more difficult to recycle than other materials. Instead, the ESA suggests that producers that will place composite products on the market must face higher levels of obligation as opposed to no obligation at all.