Repak, the industry funded used packaging recycling scheme, has announced that due to the tough economic environment faced by its members that there will no increase in the 2011 fee membership.
This is the third year in a row that membership fees have been frozen despite Repak maintaining all subsidies to recyclers at current levels, continuing to achieve 2011 targets and an increase in recycling costs and targets.
However the organisation has indicated that rigid control of costs without increases is unsustainable and that future fee increases will be necessary.
“Repak appears to be the only packaging compliance scheme within mainland EU to hold charges at previously low levels while continuing to achieve national recycling targets,” points out Dr Andrew Hetherington, chief executive of Repak. “Based on the continued growth in domestic recycling, which currently accounts for over 70% of the Repak spend, and the necessity for Repak – as a not-for-profit organisation – to seek equilibrium with costs and expenditure over the medium-term, fee increases for 2012 and beyond will be required.”