Environment ministers urged to start acting on packaging

Environment ministers from across Australia met in Canberra on Tuesday to progress key environment issues of national significance, but decided that more time was needed to fully assess the decision on packaging policy options. The lack of decision continues industry frustration with the protracted process of review of packaging regulation, which was initiated back in April 2008.

The National Packaging Covenant Industry Association (NPCIA) is now urging the government to stop talking and start acting on packaging impacts. Stan Moore, CEO of the NPCIA, said, “After six years of talking, it’s now time to start acting to further reduce Australia’s litter rates and accelerate improvement in our packaging recycling outcomes.

“Regulatory uncertainty does not foster an environment for commitment,” Moore said. “Industry would like to get on with the task of minimising the environmental impacts of all packaging and address the key concern of litter. This uncertainty jeopardises our existing co-regulatory approach - the Australian Packaging Covenant (APC).”

A commitment to an enhanced co-regulatory model would see the continuation of the APC - a model which manages all types of packaging rather than focusing on the collections of a limited amount of packaging. Moore said the APC agreement will expire in a little over 12 months, which is why environment ministers must do everything in their power to expedite a sensible decision.

“It’s absolutely critical to remove uncertainty to allow industry to get on with initiatives and meet critical time frames to ensure progress does not stall. We urge ministers to support the continuation of the APC model.

“The APC model avoids the prohibitive costs and complexity of CDL schemes, an alternative option under consideration, and shows the best outcome in the benefit cost analysis.

“Industry is ready to stop talking and start acting on packaging,” said Moore. “We’re asking ministers to do the same.”