International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

252
29/09/09
that these costs ought to incorporate some measure related to the
environmental consequences associated with the use of different materials,
and to reflect reprocessing destinations; 267
� Method for dealing with free riders;
� Means to incentivise / regulate for / establish targets for packaging waste
prevention; and
� Whether or not there is to be a de minimis threshold for producers taking on
an obligation.
267 Current discussions in the UK include the question as to whether or not to introduce differentiation
in the PRN price according to whether e.g. glass is recycled through closed loop or open loop systems.
This reflects the overwhelming weight of evidence which suggests that the environmental benefits of
the former far exceed those of the latter (see, for example, Enviros (2003) Glass Recycling – Life Cycle
Carbon Dioxide Emissions, internal report for the British Glass Public Affairs Committee).