| What
is the Green Dot? |
It's
a participation symbol. |
| What
does it mean? |
It
signifies the supplier of packaging marked with the Green Dot
has financially contributed to the cost of recovery and recycling. |
| What
does it not mean? |
It does not mean that packaging with a Green Dot is recyclable,will
be recycled, or has been recycled. For instance, a glass bottle,
with or without a Green Dot, can be recycled, but only if YOU
bring it to a bottle bank. |
| Will
I see the Green Dot on everything? |
Not
necessarily. You will only see it on the final packaging supplied
to you by a Repak Member. You may not see it on large cardboard
boxes used to transport that final packaging to you. And, you
will definitely not see it on a wooden pallet. |
|
What if it doesn't have a Green Dot? |
There
could be two reasons. 1. This could be packaging with a long-shelf
life or packaging in-stock that the supplier must use up before
new packaging with the Green Dot can appear. 2. The supplier
could be self-complying with the legislation, meaning he won't
be licensed by Repak to supply or display packaging marked with
the Green Dot. |
| How
can I be sure? |
ASK.
If you are not sure, ask the supplier are they aware of the
Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations and their legal obligations.
Ask if they are a Repak Member. |
| Is
it unfair that only Repak Members have the Green Dot? |
No.
Non-members are entitled to have their own logo and to promote
awareness of their own activities regarding recovery and recycling
of packaging waste. On behalf of its Members, Repak have sweated
blood and tears to promote its activities, and through the Green
Dot, make people aware of this - It's hardly fair that suppliers,
who haven't financially contributed to the cost of recovery
and recycling through Repak, can use the Green Dot, and 'free-load'
on the hard work and hard won achievements of Repak and its
Members. |
| And
if they are using the Green Dot and not in Repak? |
They
will be prosecuted to up-hold the reputation of Repak, Members,
and the Green Dot. |
| It's
called the Green Dot but its not always Green? |
It
started life as green. However, when packaging is printed or
produced, it may not have any green pigment on it. To introduce
a new colour would be expensive and not very environmentally
friendly. Therefore, it can be any two colours, or even one
colour on a contrasting background. It still means the same. |
| There
are too many symbols on packaging, why do we have it at all? |
Same
reason we have newspapers, television, radio, and….the internet
- so that you may consider yourself one of the informed and
aware. |
| What
other countries use the Green Dot? |
Austria,
Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Norway
and soon to be Sweden, and Latvia. |
| Is
anybody making money out of this Dot? |
Not
a penny. Besides administration, the money gets spent on recovery
and recycling of packaging waste. |
| Why
doesn't my bring site have paper or plastic banks? |
Unfortunately,
the quantity and quality of paper or plastic generated by
a householder is not what is in demand. A waste recovery operator
wants large amounts of homogeneous (single-type) material.
Rest assured that this is actually being done through the
back door of industrial and commercial premises for paper,
card, plastic, and many other materials. However, this is
not very visible to you.
|