Review Of The Producer Responsibility Initiative Model In ... - Repak

We must both anticipate and respond to the needs of existing and future compliance
scheme companies. Some existing compliance schemes have indicated a wish to expand
their operations into other waste streams in order that they might reflect the wishes of their
members to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ scheme that can meet their recycling needs across
different waste streams. In addition, new operators may also wish to enter the recycling
market to operate as compliance schemes. If there is a developing trend whereby multiple
compliance schemes operate in a waste stream, then we need to examine the need to
alter the existing regulatory framework in terms of the present operation, structure and
rules underpinning the PRI system, including the procedures for the approval of
compliance schemes. Any new regulatory system would need to ensure that competition
is facilitated, works effectively, reduces costs to producers whilst maintaining a high level
of environmental compliance.
The area of self-compliance by producers in various waste streams will also need to be
fundamentally examined. We need to ensure that self-compliance is being monitored and
to also ensure that the relevant recycling activities are being undertaken and are being
properly accounted for in domestic and EU targets. In addition, it is crucial that selfcompliers
do not enjoy an unwarranted competitive advantage in comparison to members
of compliance schemes.
(d).
Reengineering of the compliance schemes.
As indicated in the preceding section, a primary focus of this review will be to examine the
operation, structure and rules of the PRI schemes particularly where it is a possibility that
certain waste streams will have to plan for multiple compliance schemes and where these
individual schemes potentially manage more than one type of waste.
In this scenario, it will be necessary to examine how such a system would operate from a
number of perspectives, including the geographic market breakup, if any, of the
compliance schemes, the operation of the black box (secure, confidential collection of
data, ensuring its integrity), the information and awareness regime and the ability of firms
and producers to switch between individual schemes. Also, we also require an
examination on the feasibility to assign the responsibility for the achievement of targets to
compliance schemes.
The primary activities of the compliance schemes since their inception have been in the
areas of waste collection, recovery and recycling. It will be necessary, while continuing
these activities, to increase the focus of the compliance schemes on the prevention of
waste and, in regard to WEEE and packaging waste streams, to develop a policy to
further develop the implementation of reuse in Ireland, in accordance with the priority
order of the waste hierarchy in Article 4 of Directive 2008/98/EC.
Another issue is the co-operation between the schemes on a broad range of issues; what
structure or processes would ensure the most efficient, competitive delivery of
requirements in a co-ordinated manner. The appropriate contribution of self-compliers to
key cross-cutting issues, such as information and awareness raising, also need to be
examined.
We are aware that Irish people wish to recycle so we should ensure that they have clear
information and awareness messages which will provide maximum return and negate any
possible confusion for consumers by exposure to multiple awareness messages from
different compliance schemes. We also need to examine from what sources consumers
receive their decisive recycling messages and ascertain the impact on consumer
behaviour from the messages that are provided both from the compliance schemes and
other sources.
1.6. Steering Group.
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