More packaging would be recovered and recycled under proposals set out in a consultation published by Environment Minister Joan Ruddock today.

The Packaging Directive sets minimum recycling and recovery rates for packaging waste for 2008, which then have to be sustained over the following years. The UK must achieve the Directive targets by 31 December 2008 and thereafter it will have to ensure that at least this level of recovery and recycling is sustained.

New business targets would come into effect in January 2008 to help the UK meet its obligations under the EC Packaging Directive. Higher targets are proposed for 2009 and beyond to increase the level of recovery and recycling.

After 2008 it is at the discretion of Member States to set targets beyond the minimum required by the Packaging Directive and the UK has made clear that its aim is to continue to improve performance on packaging waste because of the environmental benefits this brings.

Joan Ruddock said:

“Since the introduction of the UK Packaging Regulations packaging recycling has improved significantly, from just 27% in 1997 to over 57% last year. But there is much more to be done. Further cuts in packaging waste are an essential part of reducing our reliance on landfill and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

“The higher targets can also act as a driver to help design out unnecessary packaging in future.”

The EU minimum recycling and recovery targets are 55% and 60% respectively. The Government’s preferred option would increase the recycling target to 55.7% in 2008, 56.8% in 2009 and 58.4% in 2010, and the recovery target to 60.6%, 61.8% and 63.4% in the same years.

Defra are consulting on revised packaging recycling and recovery targets to 2012, under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007. The consultation deadline is 30 November 2007.


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