At a recent Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) meeting in Hobart, environment ministers noted the framework prepared by the National Packaging Covenant Council – outlining future Covenant arrangements post June 2010 – and requested that they continue developing a new Covenant for their consideration at the next meeting in November.
Ed Cordner CEO of the Covenant says this was a very positive sign showing the current model in Australia is working successfully.He says, “The findings of the mid-term review show that the Covenant has been part of a dramatic revolution in Australian packaging which brings great credit to federal, state and local governments, the packaging and waste industries and the community.”
Cordner continues, “The Ministers’ decision demonstrates their support for a model that works. This independent review formed part of the requirements of the current Covenant and showed that the overall recycling rate for packaging was 56 per cent in 2007 and it is likely the Covenant’s target of 65 per cent will be met by 2010.”
He also says that in addition to recycling rates, other key review findings include:
- Since 2003, the amount of packaging going to landfill has decreased by 24 per cent.
- Covenant funded projects are effective in making a contribution to the achievement of the targets.
- An overwhelming majority of signatories want the Covenant to continue beyond 2010.
- Signatory actions have drastically improved the recyclability and recycled content of packaging.
- The level of participation in the Covenant has exceeded expectations and the cooperative model is working well in Australia.
