Last Updated: 15 October 07
DEFRA has published proposals to increase the recycling targets for packaging waste. The proposed amendments have been designed to help close the gap between current recycling performance and EU targets which the UK must meet by 2008.
The regulations require companies that turn over more than £2million and handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging per year to contribute towards the cost of recycling packaging waste.
The government has highlighted the 2008 deadline as a key date to meet the EU targets and has amended the targets regularly with the most recent revision of targets in 2005 to bring in franchised businesses. However this has not been enough to meet the require EU targets. The new proposals will increase the recycling targets for steel by 10.5% to 68%, glass by 9.5% to 78.5% and plastics by 2% to 26.5%, compared to the 2007 target. The overall recovery rate will also increase by an extra percentage point to 69%.
These changes are likely to increase the cost to obligated companies in the short term with a possible return to a situation where metal recycling returns to above £100 per tonne and glass / plastics costs more than £50 per tonne.
Companies affected by the regulations can join compliance schemes like Pennine Pack who liaise with recyclers to make sure that recycling takes place on their behalf.
If you would like to know more about Pennine Pack, please contact us directly.
For more details of the consultation go to
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/packaging-reg07/index.htm
