Written question asked by Lord Whitehead (Labour) on Thursday, 29 June 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 July 2000. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 July 2000 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to distinguish between producer responsibility obligations for packaging that has a high energy contribution to its life cycle, and that which does not.

Answer: Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to distinguish between producer responsibility obligations for packaging that has a high energy contribution to its life cycle, and that which does not. [128889] Ms Hewitt: A producer responsibility regime exists for packaging in the form of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997. These regulations place an obligation on businesses throughout the packaging chain which meet certain threshold requirements, to recover and recycle packaging waste. The regulations do not distinguish between different kinds of packaging or packaging materials on the basis of either their energy content or the energy consumed in their manufacture and use.

Secondary information