February 16, 2007—A Web site to help companies meet packaging recycling regulations and tackle fraud has been launched by the Environment Agency.
The aim of the new National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD) Web site is to help companies meet the EU target to recover and recycle 60% of packaging waste generated in the UK by 2008.
Under the Producer Responsibility (Packaging) Regulations, any company involved in the packaging supply chain that is larger than 2m turnover and which handles more than 50 tons of packaging each year is obligated to recover and recycle a set level of its packaging waste.
These companies must prove they have met their target by obtaining packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs) or their export equivalent (PERNs). These recovery notes represent a set amount of packaging waste recycled. Companies can obtain the notes either by recycling the waste themselves or by purchasing them from other companies who may have exceeded their target.
Under the old system, the recovery notes were paper-based and so the system was open to potential abuse and fraud. On the new Web site, electronic Packaging Waste Recovery Notes (ePRNs or ePERNs) will be introduced.
Source: Workplace Law
