|
|
PROPOSAL FOR A STRENGTHENED NATIONAL PACKAGING COVENANT
The purpose of the proposed changes to the National Packaging Covenant (NPC)
are to strengthen a number of elements within the Covenant, include targets, and
extend its life to 2010.
The goal of the Covenant is to reduce environmental degradation arising from the
disposal of used consumer packaging and conserve resources through better product
design and encouragement of the reduction, re-use and recycling of used packaging
materials.
The Covenant, an industry self-regulatory instrument, aims to ensure that all
involved in the packaging chain play their part in reducing packaging waste. While
the NEPM ensures that participants in the Covenant are not unfairly disadvantaged
in the market place.
The Covenant was extensively reviewed throughout 2004 and revised in response
to the findings of the Evaluation of the National Packaging Covenant and a general
agreement by all stakeholders that the model needed to be significantly strengthened
if it was to continue. The draft proposal reflects the Covenant Council's recommendations
for concrete actions and changes to strengthen the Covenant taking into account
the findings of the recent reviews of the Covenant and input from a nationwide
Consultation Process.The draft proposal also identifies targets which are currently
being developed amongst stakeholders involved with the Covenant.
In April 2005, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council endorsed extension
of the life of the existing Covenant from 30 April 2005 to 14 July 2005, consistent
with the Used Packaging Materials NEPM. The draft Covenant proposal is intended
to take effect after 14 July 2005.
Documents relating to the proposed strengthened National Packaging Covenant which
were released for public consultation, can be downloaded below. These are:
- Draft National Packaging Covenant proposal
- National Packaging Covenant – Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement
for the revised National Packaging Covenant
- Appendix A - Overseas Experiences in Management of Used Packaging Materials,
Impact Statement for the Draft National Environment Protection Measure for Used
Packaging Materials January 1999 (as material from the original 1999 impact statement
is still relevant and referred to in the current Impact Statement, all relevant
documents have been made accessible together for ease of reference).
In assessing the impacts of the draft Covenant proposal, the Regulatory Impact
Statement (RIS) acknowledges that the Covenant and the NEPM are an integral package
and that the role of the NEPM has been considered in the development of the Regulatory
Impact Statement (RIS) for the Covenant. Consequently, the Covenant documents
should be read in conjunction NEPM variation documents. Click
here to access the variation page.
The submission period on the draft Covenant Proposal and Regulatory Impact
Statement has closed.
|
