Packaging Waste Regulations (cont)
Activity Obligations
The packaging chain has been split into stages and the burden of compliance spread amongst the different stages. These activities further down the chain, closer to the end user carry the greater burden as they are deemed to have more control over the packaging quantities and specification. They are therefore in a better position to reduce unnecessary packaging and produce a greater quantity of “back door waste” that is suitable for recycling. If we consider the Packaging chain for a cardboard box then the various obligated companies might be:
Manufacturer = |
Smurfitts when they manufacture cardboard sheets from wood pulp. |
Convertor = |
Dunstable Cartons who convert cardboard sheets into flat boxes. |
Packer / Filler = |
Adidas who package trainers in cardboard boxes. |
Seller = |
Sports & Soccer who sell the shoes in their stores. |
End User = |
Joe Bloggs who buys the shoes and throws away the boxes |
Activity obligation |
Activity obligation |
|
from 1997 - 1999 |
from 2000 - present |
|
Raw Material Manufacturer |
6% |
6% |
Converter |
11% |
9% |
Packer / Filler |
36% |
37% |
Seller |
47% |
48% |
| For an Importer | Sum of all the activity targets for the activities carried out prior to import plus any activities carried out after import, giving a maximum rolled up importers obligation of 100% on transit packaging or products imported for own use or sale direct to another end user. |
It is possible for a Company to carry out more than one activity in which case they attract the sum of the associated activities. Eg1 if SCA Packaging manufacture the cardboard and convert this into flat boxes they would have a total obligation of 15% in 2001. Eg2 if Dell Computers fill the boxes and sell them direct to the end user then they would have a total obligation of 85% in 2001.
When the end user purchases a packaged product from a UK source, where the obligations have already been accounted for, they have no obligation. Sports & Soccer have no obligation on the cardboard outer cartons, containing sports shirts, purchased from UK merchants. However, if they import similar shirts in boxes from the Far East they will be deemed as having carried out all the preceding activities and so will have a 100% rolled up importers obligation.
Where Packaging is exported outside the UK the producer has no obligation on the material as this is the reciprocal of importing. Therefore if Triumph Motorcycles imported products on pallets it would attract a 100% activity obligation. If these same pallets were subsequently exported to another country the previous 100% activity obligation would be claimed back in full.
Once the total weight of Packaging has been calculated and apportioned to the various elements of the Packaging chain in proportion to the relevant Activity obligations. The Recovery and Recycling targets are determined by multiplying the different packaging weights by the relevant years National Targets.
National Targets since 2004
