12-13 May 2016 - India's Policy Dialogue International Workshop on Extended Producer Responsibility in India: Opportunities, Challenges and Lessons from International Experience, New Delhi, India.

1. EPR FOR PACKAGING: OPPORTUNITIES AND
CHALLENGES
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON EPR IN INDIA:
OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES AND LESSONS FROM
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
12th - 13th May, 2016 New Delhi, India
Monika Romenska, EXPRA

2. 2
• Association of EPR recovery and recycling systems (compliance
schemes) for packaging waste, owned by obliged industry and
working on non for profit basis;
• Strong focus on collection of packaging waste arising at municipal /
household level and communication campaigns for separate
collection;
• Currently, 25 members in 23 European countries (17 EU Member
States) and in Israel and Quebec, Canada.
• Providing over 210 million people with infrastructure for collection &
recycling of used packaging; recovering over 16 million tons of
packaging per year.
• Working in close partnership with obliged companies and local
authorities.
About EXPRA
2

3. 3
EU Policy evolution: From waste to
sustainable materials management
1994 Packaging
and Packaging
Waste irective
1999 Landfill
Directive
2008 Waste
Framework Directive:
Waste hierachy
Directives on WEEE,
batteries, end-of-life
vehicles, etc.
2011 Roadmap on
Resource efficiency
2013 7th EAP
(Environmental
Action Program)
vision: Circular
economy and low-
carbon society
2015
New Circular
Economy
Package

4. 4
Overall Packaging Recycling Quotas 2013
0,0
10,0
20,0
30,0
40,0
50,0
60,0
70,0
80,0
Source: Eurostat data
Target
2008

5. 5
The role of EPR in the circular economy
Packaging cycle
Contract agreements
Financed by
fees
EPR
Packaging
Recovery
Organization
Retail trade
Local Authority’s Waste
Management Company
Collection & Sorting
Recycling /
Recovery
Material for new products
Packaging
manufacturer
Filler/bottler
Packed product
Consumer
New products
Sorting
…………………

6. 6
NATIONAL AUTHORITIES:
● Set legal framework;
● Implement it through
accreditattion;
●Define clear roles of all
actors;
● Ensure control and
enforcement;
OBLIGED INDUSTRY:
● Take ownership of their
responsibility;
● Allign and act as one;
● Set up run and controll
efficient EPR Orgnaziations;
PROs:
● Coordinate relations with
all partners involved;
●Provide tender contracts
and tender books;
● Ensure quality (quality
requirements are fulfilled)
LOCAL AUTHORITIES:
● Cooperate with the EPR
scheme
● Implement and stimulate
separate collection;
● Ensure quality of provided
services;
RECYCLING INDUSTRY
● Provide qualitative services;
●Come up with innovative
ideas;
● Be transparent, including the
traceability of the material and
the efficiency of their
processes
CONSUMERS/CITIZENS
Sort their waste at home in
the way that has been
communicated to them
WASTE PICKERS
● Respect the set rules;
● Contribute to the formal
system
STAKEHOLDERS

7. 7
EPR: several ways of implementation:
“Operational and Financial Responsibility”
EPR System in hands of
obliged industry
(BE, ES, IT, NL, NO, CZ,
FR, IE, PT)
Competing PROs
(DE, PL, RO, BG)
‘Tradable Credits’
Model with several
traders
(UK)
Several PRO‘s sharing
infrastructure
(DE, AT)
PROs acting in
different areas
(RO, BG)
PROs have established
parallel infrastructure
(EE)
Operational
responsibility fully with
local authorities
(FR, NL, CZ)
Collection and sorting
with local authorities
(BE, ES, IT)
EPR system in parallel
to a deposit system
(DE, NO, SE, FI, EE)
One comprehensive
system for all
(household)
packaging
(e.g. BE, FR, ES, IT)
Household & ICI
Packaging treated
differently
(DE, FR, BE, ES)
Same rules for all
packaging
(e.g. IT, CZ, SK, RO)
Full cost approach
(e.g. DE, AT, BE, SE)
Shared cost approach
(e.g. IT, ES, FR)
Incentive cost
approach
(UK)
No operational
responsibility for local
authorities
(e.g. DE, AT, SE)

8. 8
• Every approach has its advantages and disadvantages
• Local conditions and culture very important
=> no copy paste possible
• Involvement of and partnership with local authorities is key for a
successful EPR system as they are the face to inhabitants, ensure
stability and respect local needs
Is there a best approach?

9. 9
Problems to expect in Implementation
Packaging Waste & Sustainability Forum,
March 2013, Brussels
• “FREE RIDERS” - not all producers/industry is willing to finance separate
selection and recycling of packaging waste. Report less packaging waste to
EPR that generated in real, in order to pay less.
• PRICE WAR between more EPR organization for packaging waste! In order to
attract more members in a competitive EPR market, some EPR enter the price
war on expense of efficiency! It will result in not enough money to establish real
separate selection (infrastructure, collection, transport...)
•NO INTEREST for cooperation between stakeholders (Municipalities, Waste
operators, street collectors..)

10. 10
EXPRA beliefs : How to make EPR successful?
• EPR is one tool within a comprehensive policy approach;
• Different stakeholders should have clear roles to play, ensuring no
conflict of interests!;
• EPR organisations should be run by obliged companies on a not-
for-profit basis;
• Focus on separate collection and collection infrastructure for
inhabitants is key for the success of the system!

11. 11
EXPRA beliefs : How to make EPR successful?
• Ensure transparency of operations and data;
• Calculate the fees for all materials covered in a fair manner;
• EPR organisations should control the use of the fees collected, and
influence infrastructure design if necessary;
• Packaging optimisation, design-for-recycling, clear
communication and education of inhabitants and company
representatives are essential parts of successful EPR systems
• Continuously improve system performance;

12. 12
Recommendations/conclusions for PRO (to
be) set up (by obliged industry)
• 1. Upfront analysis
2. Clear understanding of legislation
3. Define role of the organization
4. Make operational choices: What & how?
5. Collaborate with local authorities
6. Develop solid marketing and communication strategy
7. Develop efficient, transparent and reliable data management system
8. Keep costs under control + balance costs with income streams
9. PRO has public interest function, thus need for solid capital structure

13. PARTNERSHIP IS A KEY TO SUCCESS