1.1. Tasks of the IRPC
The tasks of the IRPC include the following:
Monitoring whether companies (parties responsible for packaging, aka “responsible companies”) and accredited compliance organisations are fulfilling their reporting and take-back (i.e. recycling and recovery) obligations.
Checking the way in which the responsible companies and accredited compliance organisations meet their statutory recycling and recovery targets.
Approving or rejecting prevention plans of companies (responsible companies).
Granting or refusing accreditation to the organisations responsible for promoting, coordinating and financing the selective collection, recycling and recovery of packaging waste.
Assisting and advising the regional governments, for example by creating consultative forums, providing logistical support or proposing legislative amendments.
Conducting or commissioning studies and research into the management and prevention of packaging waste.
Processing notifications in order to issue approval for planned shipments of waste that does not originate from Belgium and will not be treated there either. Additionally, processing individual shipment notifications relating to an approved notification.
1.2. Composition of the IRPC
The composition of the decision-making body in 2023:
Flemish Region
Full members:
Ann De Boeck
Nick Vliegen
Anneleen De Wachter (Chair until 04/03/2023)
Alternate members:
Luc Goeteyn
Roeland Bracke
Christof Delatter
Brussels-Capital Region
Full members:
Marion Courtois
Céline Schaar (Chair since 05/03/2023)
Stéphanie Uny
Alternate members:
Valérie Verbrugge
Stéphanie Thomaes
Milan Jousten
Walloon Region
Full members:
Lara Hotyat
Vincent Brahy
Martine Gillet
Alternate members:
Guillaume Lepère
Marie-Hélène Lahaye
Jean-Yves Mercier
The organisational structure of the Permanent Secretariat in 2023:
At the end of 2023, the Permanent Secretariat had a total of 16 members of staff.
1.3. Extended Producer Responsibility Interregional Platform (EPRIP) and EPR and Litter Cooperation Agreement
The IRPC acts as secretariat for the Extended Producer Responsibility Interregional Platform, which was created in 2009 with the aim of developing a common understanding on extended producer responsibility (EPR).
The EPRIP is working hard on preparing a new EPR and Litter Cooperation Agreement. On the one hand, this agreement aims to create an interregional framework for dealing with streams other than packaging waste that are subject to the principle of EPR. On the other hand, it seeks to pass on the costs of litter to those who cause these waste streams.
This new Cooperation Agreement will incorporate the EPRIP into the IRPC, creating the new “Interregional EPR Commission”, which will comprise two sections: the “Packaging decision-making body” and the “EPR decision-making body”.
As well as finalising the Cooperation Agreement, work has already begun on preparing the implementing cooperation agreements required to apply the EPR part of the aforementioned Cooperation Agreement. The Belgian Regions have held discussions on the following streams: WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment), mattresses, textiles and used oils.
1.4. 2023 budget of the IRPC
The actual income and expenditure of the IRPC in 2023:
