Transcript Document
SWWMG: September 2012 LEGISLATION UPDATE Review of the UK’s Producer Responsibility Obligations The UK’s 4 PR regimes derive from 4 separate EU Directives (Packaging and Packaging Waste, Waste Batteries and Accumulators, WEEE and ELV). Each Directive applies the principle of ‘producer responsibility’ to a different product category. Common financial objective of ensuring that producers bear the costs of collecting, treating and recycling/recovering a proportion of the products they place on the market to meet targets and standards. Similar administrative processes . However, there are still significant differences between the regimes. Policy Review • Defra and BIS are currently reviewing all PR regimes • Issues raised from stakeholders will require regulatory amendments if taken forward • Consultation/s on any proposed amendments to the Regulations in early 2013 Coherence issues considered in review • • • • • • • • Explore options for revising/introducing de minimis positions across all 3 regimes which removes similar sized businesses from regulatory burden. Review options for direct registration Review adoption of same registration process and requirements across regimes Consider potential for all producer data on product handled to be based on previous calendar year or years. Consider group registrations across all regimes Adopt a common position with regards to any products which are placed on the market and which are subsequently exported. Review the late registration fees and data submission fees. Introduce civil sanctions for all regimes Packaging Specific Issues • • • Consider increasing the range for the allocation method within the regulations Consider introducing a Class D supply (wholesale/distribution) which would introduce a new category of producers in the Regulations Consider split targets for plastics : by format (bottle, film etc.), polymer type and source (household/commercial & industrial) Batteries Specific Issues • • Review the current exemption for small distributors from the requirement to take back batteries For automotive and industrial batteries – review whether the producer responsibility requirements for producers are an effective mechanism for ensuring that end users can access free take back if they want to. WEEE Recast • New requirements are likely to apply from early 2014 • Main Changes • - Scope and scope exclusions • - New member states collection target • - Higher recovery, reuse and recycling targets • - Illegal shipments • - New distributor/retailer obligations Scope • • • Currently there are 10 categories: Large Household Appliances, small household appliances, IT & telecomms equipment, Consumer equipment, lighting equipment, electrical and electronic tools, toys, leisure & sports equipment, medical devices, monitoring and control instruments and automatic dispensers. Under the new Directive the original 10 categories on an closed scope basis (plus the addition of photovoltaic panels in Category 4) for 6 years. The streamlined to 6 categories on an open scope basis – temperature exchange equipment, screens and monitors, lamps, other large, small ICT and other small. Scope – agreed exclusions • • Straightaway: military equipment, equipment designed and installed as part of another type of equipment not within scope, filament bulbs and household luminaires (exclusion to end on move to ‘open scope’). On move to ‘open scope’: equipment designed to be sent into space, large scale industrial tools, large scale fixed installations, the means of transport, non-road mobile machinery for professional use, R&D equipment only available on B2B basis, infective medical devices, pipe organs installed in churches. Collection Targets • • • Collection target from 2016 of 45% of electronic equipment sold From 2019 a target of 65% of equipment sold OR 85% of electronic waste generated Up to UK government to choose which one of the 2019 targets to go for. This will mean legislation will need to be amended by February 2014. Recovery, reuse and recycling targets • • • Introduction of 70% recovery and 50% recycling for Category 8 (Medical devices) immediately All targets to increase by 5% after 3 years Within 4 years the Commission will examine the case for a mandatory 5% reuse target to be shown separately from the recycling target level New Distributor/Retailer Obligation • For all retail outlets with an EEE sales area over 400m2 – the retailer must take back any small item of WEEE in-store at no charge to the consumer and without an obligation to buy anything new. Illegal Shipments • Recast Directive obliges exporters to test whether equipment works or not and provide documents on the nature of shipments that could otherwise be considered illegal Changes to the Packaging Regulations • • • • Consultation on proposed new recovery and recycling targets for the next 5 years (from 2013). Preferred option is for higher targets for aluminium, plastic and steel with glass recycling split by end user i.e. melting or crushing for aggregate. The glass obligation would then be met by at least 63% re-melt evidence with the remaining 37% being met by glass-aggregate. Glass reprocessors will be able to issue specific glass re-melt or glassaggregate PRNs. Glass split – to encourage more glass to be collected as a single colour glass which can be re-melted to form new glass which is more carbon efficient than glass which is sent for use in aggregate. Small scale heat treatment of waste plastics for recovery • • • • • • Under the previous exemptions regime 2 exemptions from environmental permitting allowed the treatment of waste plastics (para 11 and 14). Under the new regime these exemptions were replaced by U9 and T4. Neither of these allow heat treatment of waste. Due to this restriction companies undertaking this activity would require a bespoke permit A standard rules permit is being developed to ensure these operations have proportionate regulation A position statement is in place until the SRP is in place as sites currently operating under paras 11 and 14 would have to cease operations or have a bespoke permit in place by 1 October 2012. Position statement to be reviewed in October 2013 Thank You Tessa Bowering Senior Environment officer Direct dial: 01258 483416 [email protected]