Last Updated: 28 October 10
DEFRA Announces Proposed Packaging Targets for 2011 & 2012
DEFRA have announced packaging recycling targets for 2011 and 2012 alongside a summary of responses to the consultation on packaging policy held earlier this year. Measures to improve the transparency of funding in the existing system and a number of technical changes to improve the operation of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 are also being introduced, subject to Parliamentary approval.
The changes proposed include one to remove the requirement for independent audit (of reprocessors), the other which allows smaller businesses (with a turnover of less than £2million & part of a group of companies) to use a more simple mechanism to calculate their legal obligation.
The regulations were introduced to ensure that the UK met EU targets for diverting packaging waste from landfill. These are currently being met and in order to ensure that we continue to meet the EU targets have been frozen for 2011 & 2012, with the exceptions of plastic and steel where the material specific targets have been increased to ensure that we continue meet EU targets, see below. Targets for future years are likely to be set as part of the Waste Review where findings are due to be published early in 2011.
Material 2010 (%) 2011 (%) 2012 (%)
Paper/card 69.5 69.5 69.5
Glass 81 81 81
Aluminium 40 40 40
Steel 69 71 71
Plastic 29 32 32
Wood 22 22 22
Total recycling 68.1 68.1 68.1
Total recovery 77 74 74
For more details, please go to the DEFRA website
