Alupro, a United Kingdom-based organization that works with U.K. government agencies, waste management firms and the recycling sector to boost the collection of aluminum in the country, has released a statement calling for an overhaul of the U.K.’s PRN (Packaging Waste Recovery Note) system, which is used to determine recycling efforts in the country.
Alupro Executive Director Rick Hindley states in a press release that packaging waste recovery data released by the Environment Agency (EA) for the first quarter of 2015 shows that the recycling rate for aluminum packaging is significantly less than the levels required to achieve the 2015 target. In the statement, Hindley points out that the tonnage reported for aluminum packaging recovered from incinerator bottom ash (IBA) is significantly less than the level actually recycled domestically or exported.
The first quarter, Hindley continues, is the first indication “we have of the impact that the removal of the aluminum scrap protocols and the introduction of the new protocol for the recovery of aluminum packaging from IBA is having on recycling performance in our sector.”
The numbers reported by PRN indicate that the majority of qualifying aluminum packaging recovered from IBA has not been reported. Hindley points out that many companies have either decided not to apply for accreditation or have not yet received approval from the Environment Agency and are unable to issue PRNs on the material.
“The problem is compounded by the fact that a number of reprocessors and exporters who have previously been accredited have chosen not to reapply. Our understanding is that this is due to the complexity of the system and the accreditation process itself.”
Alupro says that it has regularly voiced concern to government and the EA that a significant amount of aluminum packaging is being reprocessed outside the PRN system, with processors choosing not to report recycling through the system.
The organization notes that in March 2015, a delegation of its members, which represent accredited aluminum reprocessors, exporters and companies that have chosen not to apply for accreditation, met with the EA to express concerns about the accreditation process. They made a number of suggestions as to how the process could be streamlined to ensure that all of the aluminum packaging recycled is reported through the system, while maintaining its integrity and reducing the burden on applicants and the EA.
Suggestions offered by the parties included:
- Making accreditation to issue PRNs/PERNs part of the environmental permitting regime.
- Recognition of the ISO 14001 international environmental standard in the reprocessor/exporter application process; thereby removing duplication of information and administrative effort within the application process.
“It is Alupro’s view that unless and until these changes are implemented, we will continue to be at risk of volatile PRN prices and obligated companies will face significantly higher PRN costs when, in reality, more than enough aluminum packaging is being actually being recycled to meet the targets,” Hindley says.
Alupro’s proposed changes to the system would be of benefit to all materials but are more significant for aluminum, as the PRN price is minimal compared to the high traded price of used aluminum packaging.
Get curated news on YOUR industry.
Enter your email to receive our newsletters.
Latest from Recycling Today
- Ferrous traders see price stability continuing
- Eriez puts downstream shredder system on display
- Reju, Circle-8 partner to develop UK textile circularity
- Aduro joins PLASTICS, PSRA
- Rumpke awarded recycling contract in Bowling Green, Ohio
- VPPA and RISI to host pulp and paper summit in Vietnam
- Agilyx buys stake in Green Dot
- Meadow tabs aluminum as key to boosting beauty sector recycling