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Zdroj/Source: Swedish EPA |
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HOME 
ARCHIV 2004
18.09.2004
Producer responsibility for packaging |
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Contents:
Description of the Swedish collection system for packaging waste Producer responsibility is regulated via the Environmental Code’s (1998:808)
Chapter 15 on waste and producer responsibility, as well as the Ordinance
(1997:185) on Producer Responsibility for Packaging. In order to live up to the
requirements laid down in the legislation, the business community has formed
joint recycling companies, also called material companies. These companies are
run on a non-profit basis and their purpose is to ensure that producer
responsibility is fulfilled. They have thus assumed responsibility on behalf of
the producers. There are recycling companies for glass, metal, paper and paperboard, corrugated cardboard, plastic, wood and beverage containers. They are Svensk GlasĹtervinning AB, Svenska Metallkretsen AB, Svensk Kartongĺtervinning AB, RWA Returwell AB, Plastkretsen AB, Svenskt Returträ AB, Returpack AB, Returpack-PET AB. Finally, the Swedish Brewers’ Association is responsible for returnable beverage glass containers. There is also a newly-formed recycling company, SvepRetur AB, which is responsible for a voluntary commitment concerning plastics used in agriculture. The collection system is nationwide. There are
two different collection
systems, one for consumers and one for industry - companies, hospitals,
restaurants, etc. There are recycling stations in all municipalities where
households can leave their separated packaging waste free of charge. There are
currently a total of about 7,700 recycling stations in the country. Beverage containers that are included in a deposit and return system have their own collection system in the form of reverse vending machines in shops and other places. These beverage containers comprise containers for ready-to-drink beverages such as aluminium cans, glass bottles for beer and soft drinks, and PET bottles. Glass bottles and large PET bottles (1.5 and 2 litres) are reused, while aluminium cans and the smaller PET bottles are recycled. Steel cans are not included in the deposit and return system. Virtually all separated packaging from companies ends up in the material
companies’ collection systems. There are, however, no statutory requirements
that a producer must join a material company and its collection system. It is
possible to remain outside the joint system if the company sets up its own
collection system. Recovery can take the form of reuse, recycling or energy recovery, or a combination of these. In simplified terms, it can be said that certain glass and PET bottles are reused, other glass, metal, cardboard and paperboard, corrugated paperboard and rigid plastic are reclaimed as new material, while plastic film and end-of-life paper packaging are often incinerated. There are companies who have specialized in the recycling of certain materials. Energy recovery takes place in waste incineration plants that make use of the energy. The last alternative form of waste management in the EU’s hierarchy − landfilling −should be avoided. A ban on landfilling of combustible waste was enacted on 1 January 2002 in Sweden. It will be followed in 2005 by a ban on landfilling of compostable waste. Scope of producer responsibility
Purpose of producer responsibility The purpose of the Ordinance on Producer Responsibility for Packaging is to influence the design of packaging so that it can be reused or recovered and finally incinerated or landfilled, all with minimal environmental impact. Landfilling should be avoided. Producer responsibility shall serve as a policy instrument to ensure that packaging is designed, produced and offered for sale in such a manner that environmentally acceptable management is possible when the packaging waste is to be disposed of. Another purpose is to stimulate the producers to develop packaging so that emissions of harmful substances are minimized in connection with landfilling or incineration. At the same time, the Ordinance is aimed at stimulating the development of smaller and lighter packaging so that the amount of waste is reduced. Responsibility of other actors The Ordinance also defines a responsibility for other actors: Households and others who use packaging shall separate the packaging from household refuse and other waste and deliver it to the collection systems provided by the producers. Recovery and recycling targets The Ordinance contains a number of targets for reuse and material recycling, not including organic recycling, of packaging types that shall be met by 30 June 2001, when new, higher recovery targets entered into force. The terms “reuse” and “recycling” were then replaced by “recovery” and
“recycling”, respectively. It is no longer a question of packaging types, but of
packaging waste. The main difference between the target rates before and after
mid-year 2001 is that reused packaging is not regarded as packaging waste in the
latter case. The term “recovery” now also includes incineration in a plant where
the energy is recovered. The following table illustrates the target rates for the different packaging types:
The Ordinance on Producer Responsibility for Packaging implements the EU Directive 94/62/EC of 1994 on Packaging and Packaging Waste. A directive on the EU level is necessary in order, on the one hand, to prevent and reduce the impact of packaging on the environment and thereby ensure a high level of environmental protection, and, on the other hand, to ensure a functioning internal market for packaging. The Directive contains target rates for recovery and recycling. Sweden has adopted higher target rates than those in the Directive. The Directive establishes certain essential requirements regarding the
composition of packaging and the potential of packaging for reuse and recovery.
The purpose section of the Swedish Ordinance corresponds to these
requirements. A revision of the mentioned Packaging Directive is currently under way
within the EU. The revision will raise the recovery rates, which can be expected
to enter into force in 2006 or 2008. Recovery and recycling targets were introduced from 30 June 2001 for two new
categories of packaging: wood packaging and other packaging. The producers have
to recover 70 percent of the wood packaging, with at least 15 percent recycling;
plus 30 percent of other packaging with at least 15 percent recycling per
material. The Swedish EPA reports national Swedish packaging data annually to the European Commission. The results were found to have increased once again in 2001, and Sweden is now above the Directive’s maximum rates for recovery and recycling. All material specific targets have been reached.
Publications from the Swedish EPA can be ordered from our Bokhandeln (On-Line Environmental bookstore) or our library. Most of the reports have a summary in English.
The following organizations collect and recover/recycle the packaging waste: Förpackningsinsamlingen Contact: Lena Jacobsson Date: 19 March 2003 Copyright © Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
As far as Reverse Vending Machines, for related websites search on: Related articles on RVM TOMRA search in main menu RETURN Related links on IP PETrecycling.cz in English only: More articles on IP PETrecycling.cz:
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