The PRN/PERN system was introduced under the 1997 Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations as a way for producers to demonstrate that they have met their statutory recycling obligations each year, and to fund investment in recycling, by obtaining evidence notes.
DEFRA recognises that there is more to do and is consulting on a further package of measures on reforms to the PRN/PERN system. The changes aim to level the playing field between UK domestic reprocessors and exporters.
David Gudgeon, Head of External Affairs at Reconomy, said, “We welcome this consultation which aims to level the playing field between UK reprocessors and exporters. It comes at a critical time with the UK’s recycling infrastructure facing significant capacity constraints amid a challenging operating environment with severe cost headwinds and competition from cheaper virgin materials.
“By encouraging more packaging waste to be processed domestically, this could potentially be transformational for the UK recycling industry by providing greater certainty of waste supply and funding, helping to unlock billions of pounds of private investment and enabling domestic operators to play a leading role in the UK’s transition to a circular economy.”
