As we entered the new calendar year, the packaging recovery note (PRN) markets remained stable. Prices across all grades are relatively flat, with only minor rises and falls in prices, and early indications are that the UK will comply with the packaging recovery targets for 2016 with ease.
Chris Taylor, Clarity Environmental Commercial Manager, said: “The voluntary monthly submissions to the National Packaging Waste Database by reprocessors suggest that the packaging obligation for 2016 will be met. Whilst these figures should not be relied upon, they do provide a picture of the trends across the year, and the quarterly data throughout 2016 has indicated that the UK will have no problems complying with our targets. As this filters through to 2017, the markets are not currently under any pressure.”
Chris added: “It was another successful compliance year for us at Clarity, with record tonnages traded, and we are pleased to have welcomed two new members to our team. As a growing number of businesses choose to comply with Clarity, expansion to our team ensures we continue to obtain sufficient PRNs to cover our packaging compliance members’ obligations each year, as well as assisting other schemes and direct registrants obligated under the Producer Responsibility (Packaging Waste) Regulations.”
The Defra consultation on new packaging recycling targets for paper, wood, aluminium and steel closed earlier this month. Defra outlined three options for the targets to 2020 in its consultation. These include keeping the targets at 2017 levels through to the end of the decade, or adopting tiered increases for aluminium, steel, paper and wood from 2018. The consultation does not apply to glass or plastics packaging targets up to 2020, which have already been set.
The responses to the consultation will now be reviewed by Defra ahead of the Spring Budget. We will keep you informed of the changes as they are announced.
If you would like to talk to Clarity Environmental about buying or selling any grade of packaging recovery note (PRN), contact a member of our PRN trading team on 0845 129 7177.
