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Consultation Paper on Producer Responsibility for Non-Packaging Waste Agricultural Plastics
TIMESCALE
41. It may be necessary to phase in the targets over an interim period to allow for the necessary collection and reprocessing infrastructure to be put in place. Views are invited on what the duration of the phase in period should be, assuming a scheme is introduced in 2005-06.
42. The introduction of the targets, and any interim targets which may be set, will depend entirely on existing reprocessing capacity and the rate at which it can be increased. Currently, the BPI plant at Dumfries, one of only two in Great Britain able to reprocess this type of waste, has the capacity to recycle 12,000 tonnes per annum of post-use agricultural plastic waste into 5,000 tonnes of polythene granules (58% is lost in sand, soil and water). A producer responsibility scheme would provide this and other reprocessors with a guaranteed waste flow. However, even if the entire capacity of the BPI plant were utilised, it would amount to only 16% of the total non-packaging farm plastic wastes arising. Increased capacity is therefore essential if a meaningful amount [say, 50%-70%] of recycling is to be achieved. Whether the extra capacity is brought on-stream by the two current operators or by new players entering the market will be for the market to decide. As more plants are established around the country it ought to lead to a reduction in transport costs, making participation in the scheme more attractive to farmers in outlying areas. What is important is that guaranteed, and, possibly, progressively increasing, levels of plastics waste should be available to drive the market.
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