Recycling attitude constrains Repak

The performance of Repak, the non-profit company established by industry to co-ordinate and finance the recycling of packaging waste, has been constrained by Ireland's lack of manufacturing, recycling and recovery structure, according to a new report. The document, commissioned by Repak and compiled by UK public affairs consultancy Perchards last year, also said a lack of a recycling culture made matters difficult for the organisation.

Although Repak has performed reasonably against the targets it was set, progress has not been as smooth as was hoped when it was founded, it said.

"Repak had hoped for more in its relationships with local government, the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and industry at large, and if the partnership between them had worked more effectively, Repak would have done better," the report said.

A key recommendation is the need for a higher level of co-operation between Repak and the other stakeholders in waste management including local authorities, the Government and the EPA. A considerable number of businesses, although relatively small in size, have chosen not to join, or not to remain in membership. This means that 80 per cent of the total packaging tonnage is within Repak's remit.

With the resolution of the legal problem, the free-rider situation should start to improve. However, the report - Achievement of National Packaging Waste Recovery Recycling Tar- gets, including the role of Repak Ltd - notes the extent of any improvement is dependent on the success of prosecutions now being brought, on the willingness of local authorities to bring prosecutions and on the readiness of the courts to impose significant fines and penalties.

Among the report's key recommendations were:

Repak's structure should be reviewed and it should be based on three departments covering membership, operations, and administration and finance;

Members of the board should be elected by Repak members for a set term of two years;

The brief for the next chairman should be drawn up by the new board;

A steering group consisting of representatives of all stakeholders should be set up to monitor packaging recovery;

Repak should undertake a promotional campaign targeted at all Irish industry to educate companies on better waste management.