EU packaging recovery targets 2008
Overall recovery	60%
Overall recycling	55%
Glass	60%
Paper/board	60%
Metals	50%
Plastic	22.5%
Wood	15%
>> UK recovery targets...

European packaging waste recovery targets are revised every five years under the 1994 European Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste.

Under this Directive, the UK must recover 60% of all packaging waste by December 31, 2008, as well as meeting a number of other targets (see table, right).

In order to meet these targets, a series of UK targets have been set by Defra for each year up until 2008. Since the EU Directive is a "producer responsibility" measure, it is up to packaging producers to meet the costs of achieving these targets.

The UK's Producer Responsibility regulations affect any company involved in the packaging supply chain that is larger than £2 million turnover, or which handles more than 50 tonnes of packaging each year.

Under the regulations, companies carry out their producer responsibility by purchasing enough packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs) or their export equivalent (PERNs) to meet their obligation, which depends on how much packaging they place on the market.

Obligated companies can sign up to compliance schemes to carry out their obligations, or purchase PRNs or PERNs themselves from accredited reprocessors and exporters. PRN/PERN prices are determined by supply and demand.

Quick links:
2006	2005	2004
2003	2002	2001

To follow the development of the UK's packaging producer responsibility system, click on the dates below for letsrecycle.com coverage:

March 2008: Consultation on export regulations  Defra wants to relax requirements for exporters to provide  evidence that foreign reprocessors of UK packaging waste  meet "broadly equivalent" standards to EU recyclers.

March 2008: The plastic bag industry has threatened legal action if the government forces retailers to cut down on their use of plastic bags. March 2008: Chancellor Alistair Darling has pledged action to reduce the use of disposable carrier bags within this year's Budget.

March 2007: Reprocessing data - Q1-4, 2007  The Environment Agency has confirmed that the UK easily  met its packaging waste recovery targets in 2007 with  a surplus of nearly one million tonnes of recycling.

February 2008: The Sustainable Development Commission has called on Defra to develop a Packaging Strategy to strengthen producer responsibility. February 2008: Recyclers have cast doubt over whether the PRN system - with Defra's new targets - will be capable of building packaging collections for households.

February 2008: Recycling targets 2008-2010  Defra has announced revised packaging waste recovery  targets for three years from 2008; but is still deciding on  2011 to 2012.

January 2008: The Local Government Association has claimed the PRN system "isn't really helping any more" in supporting household recycling collections. January 2008: WRAP has accepted its voluntary producer responsibility agreement with the grocery sector - the "Courtauld Commitment" - must broaden its focus. January 2008: A Telford wine importing business has been handed a record fine for failing to pay for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste. December 2007: Ministers are keen to push up recovery targets for packaging producers. November 2007: WRAP has highlighted the risks in the UK's dependency on exports to meet its recycling targets. November 2007: Minister Joan Ruddock has called on the packaging industry to work more closely with local authorities to increase household recycling collections. October 2007: Suggestions that mixed plastics such as yoghurt pots, food trays and packaging should be collected and recycled in the UK have been met with caution. October 2007: Aluminium reprocessor Novelis Recycling has been exporting UK cans to Germany because of the plastic contamination within some loads.

October 2007: Reprocessing data - Q3, 2007  The UK looks likely to easily hit its packaging waste recovery  and recycling targets this year, new figures for the first three  quarters of the year suggest.

October 2007: Britain's youngest MP has introduced a Bill into Parliament to set binding targets for retailers to reduce the amount of packaging they use, however, the Bill does not have government backing. October 2007: Supermarkets should to do more to cut their use of packaging, or Britain will fail to meet its recycling targets, according to the LGA. October 2007: The aluminium industry is meeting with Defra and the Environment Agency on Thursday, over fears that this year's recycling targets will not be met.

October 2007: Recycling targets consultation  Defra has issued a six-week consultation to seek industry  views on proposals to raise packaging recovery and recycling  targets - particularly for glass, aluminium and steel.

September 2007: Liberal Democrats backed new Party policies to dramatically reduce the amount of packaging used by retailers to sell household items.

July 2007: Reprocessing data - Q2, 2007  Figures also including revised data for Q1 show that the  recycling of packaging waste in the first half of the year has  set the UK comfortably on course to meet its targets in 2007.

July 2007: Exporters of aluminium packaging waste have now been given until the end of the year to provide evidence that non-EU reprocessors receiving British waste come up to European standards in order to issue PERNs. July 2007: The Environment Agency warned exporters of "green list" wastes that the new Transfrontier Shipment on Waste Regulations came into force on July 12. June 2007:  The mastermind behind the UK's packaging waste recovery system, Sheila McKinley, retired from her post as head of producer responsibility with Defra. June 2007: Defra's Advisory Committee on Packaging has made a series of recommendations for changes to the packaging regulations.

May 2007: Reprocessing data - Q1, 2007  Overall recycling performance is up on this time last year, but  with glass reprocessors struggling to make the gains likely to be  needed to meet tough targets this year.

April 2007: A packaging manufacturer has been fined £50,000 for failing to contribute towards UK packaging recovery and recycling for eight years. April 2007: Trading standards officers have called for tougher measures to crack down on companies using too much packaging to sell goods to householders.

April 2007: Data problems - Q1-4, 2006  Packaging compliance experts have warned of "huge  discrepancies" that exist between Defra statistics on  packaging recovery last year and industry figures.

April 2007: Defra is considering an industry proposal to set up a separate body to manage data for the packaging producer responsibility system. April 2007: The aluminium sector has won extra time to prove that packaging waste reprocessing facilities overseas operate to standards equivalent to those in the EU April 2007: Grosvenor Waste Management was fined £55,000 by Maidstone Crown Court for six offences under transfrontier shipment of waste regulations. March 2007: Defra is appealing for information to find out why more than one million tonnes of packaging waste appears to be unaccounted for within the UK's producer responsibility system.

March 2007: Packaging regulations 2007  New regulations have come into force giving the  environment agencies the power to refuse PRN  accreditation to exporters that break shipment laws.

February 2007: Three companies have been prosecuted for improperly sending household waste to the Far East. February 2007: Grosvenor Waste as pleaded guilty to six charges concerning notification rules for the export of materials for recycling. February 2007: The packaging waste recovery note (PRN) system has moved online, in an attempt to cut paperwork, speed up data handling and cut fraud. January 2007: The container industry recycled record levels of glass in 2006, according to new figures – but the nation's growth in glass recycling has slowed. January 2007: The Environment Agency will not be making an appeal after failing to prosecute cash transporting firm Securitas for flouting recycling regulations. January 2007: The Environment Agency is planning to spend over £4 million to administer the packaging producer responsibility system in 2006/07. December 2006: Questions are now hanging over the PRN system, on future recovery targets, obligation data and export controls.    December 2005 Packaging Directive 2009-2014  European Commission officials have laid out their thoughts  on what should happen after the Packaging Directive target  year 2008.

November 2006: Companies that produce or use significant amounts of packaging to sell their goods are still being caught avoiding their obligations to pay for recycling. November 2006: Carton manufacturers have launched a £1.2 million fund to help increase recycling collections by councils and community groups. November 2006: A pioneer of glass recycling in the UK has said carbon-cutting potential of glass recycling is being wasted by waste glass being exported. November 2006: Plans to turn the evidence system for packaging producer responsibility into an internet-based operation in 2007 are still on track. November 2006: Ben Bradshaw has urged retailers to speed up the reduction in packaging waste agreed within the Courtauld Commitment.

October 2006:  Reprocessing data - Q3, 2006  Third quarter packaging waste data for the UK has been  published this week, suggesting recycling targets will be  easily met this year.

October 2006: A new protocol is being developed to help industry work more closely with local authorities over the recycling of packaging waste. October 2006: Plans for a voluntary code of practice to reduce waste associated with carrier bags have been described by retailers as "very aspirational". September 2006: Wood recyclers call for closer scrutiny over whether packaging producers meet their recycling obligations, to protect the PRN market. September 2006: Defra has launched a snap investigation of the packaging waste producer responsibility system in the UK.

August 2006: Consultation on "technical changes"  Defra has issued a consultation proposing "corrections  and technical changes" for the packaging producer  responsibility regulations.

August 2006: Defra's fact-finding mission has failed to identify any fraud within the issuing of paper PRNs or PERNs, but investigators did highlight "incorrect practices".

August 2006:  Provisional obligation data - 2006  New market data has raised questions over whether  packaging recovery and recycling targets are at the correct  level, and suggests a sizeable surplus in PRNs this year.

August 2006: A consultation on changes to the regulations, expected this month, could close loopholes allowing some producers to escape packaging recovery obligations. June 2006: Minister Ben Bradshaw has cast some doubt on whether a deposit scheme could be set up in the UK to boost the recycling of cans or bottles. June 2006: Steelmaker Corus has questioned the high prices charged by reprocessors and exporters for steel PRNs last year. June 2006: The Environment Agency has decided that the recovery of glass packaging waste from incinerator bottom ash can no longer generate PRNs. June 2006: Defra has criticised the manner in which the packaging industry meets producer responsibility commitments for recycling packaging waste June 2006: Defra warns packaging producers of the need to plan ahead in investing in reprocessing infrastructure and says there may be inaccuracies in published data. June 2006: A central fund for local authorities is one of the ways being suggested to drive up household packaging waste collections.

May 2006:  Reprocessing data - Q1 2006  First quarter packaging waste data for the UK has been  published this week as a result of industry efforts to  speed up production of the data.

May 2006: The packaging recovery sector is making progress towards an online system for the transfer of recovery and producer responsibility data. April 2006: Defra has defended its investigation of packaging recovery fraud and says results from its paper mission should be available in mid-June. April 2006: The paper industry has accused Defra of "showing little resolve" in tackling possible fraud in the paper packaging waste recovery sector. March 2006: Defra has confirmed a new national packaging waste database for the UK's packaging waste producer responsibility system. February 2006: Despite concerns over metal recycling levels, most compliance schemes have now reported that they complied with 2005 recovery obligations. February 2006:  Valpak has decided against lobbying government to bring council recycling targets in-line with packaging targets, and is to offer councils support instead. February 2006: WRAP has become the latest organisation to investigate the export of recyclable plastic packaging waste to reprocessors abroad. January 2006: The government's industry advisory body on packaging waste has progress is being made towards an electronic system for the PRN market.

January 2006: Producer Responsibility Regulations 2005  Defra has issued new guidance notes for franchise-type  businesses concerning their new producer responsibility  to recycle packaging waste.

January 2006: Local authority expert Bob Lisney has said packaging producers should engage with councils at chief executive left to boost packaging collections. January 2006: A new protocol has been launched to help plastics reprocessors determine whether material they recycle is packaging waste. January 2006: One of the UK's largest domestic paper recycling companies has criticised the PRN system for its "failure to grow reprocessing infrastructure". January 2006: The chairman of the government's industry advisory body on packaging waste has hailed a breakthrough on plans for an electronic system for the PRN market.

December 2005:  Analysis of Q3 reprocessing data  The market for packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs) is  set for a potentially turbulent few weeks, as traders enter the  traditional "carry over" period.

November 2005: New recycling targets  Defra has announced new targets for the recycling of  packaging waste in each year from 2006 until 2010.

November 2005: Minister Ben Bradshaw has dismissed the possibility of a tax on plastic bags until a more conclusive case has been made for it.

November 2005: Reprocessing data - Q3, 2005  Newly-published packaging waste recovery data - for the  first three quarters of 2005 - shows that the UK is on track  to meet its recycling and recovery targets for 2005.

October 2005: Defra is to hold a crucial gathering of councils and the packaging industry as fears grow of European packaging waste recovery targets being missed. October 2005: The Environment Agency and SEPA have raised "significant concerns" with Defra's attempt to strengthen enforcement of packaging producer responsibility.

October 2005: Producer responsibility regulations  Defra has confirmed changes to the UK packaging regulations  to bring leased and franchise packaging under obligations,  raise recycling targets and alter approval systems.

October 2005: The Environment Agency has admitted it could be months before it takes any action over those that failed to meet their recovery obligations in 2004. October 2005: Compliance schemes - through working group COSWIG - have rejected a number of Defra's proposals for tightening controls within packaging recovery. September 2005: Packaging compliance scheme Valpak is to lobby government to align council recycling targets with the recovery targets required by the European Packaging Directive. September 2005: Packaging waste compliance scheme Wastepack is seeking to set up three-year contracts for obligated members and packaging waste reprocessors. September 2005: Aluminium reprocessor Novelis has hit out at those selling aluminium PRNs for £200 per tonne and questioned where revenue is being invested. September 2005: A key report has called for more focus of PRN funds towards funding the collection of packaging waste from householders. September 2005: Packaging producers are being advised not to wait until the end of the year to buy plastic PRNs in the hope of a price collapse.

August 2005: Consultation on recovery targets (2006-10)  A hike in glass packaging waste recycling will be required from  2006, under proposed new UK packaging recovery targets.

August 2005:  Reprocessing data - Q2, 2005  The latest reprocessing data - for the second quarter of 2005  - shows a 10% increase in packaging waste recovery  compared to the same period in 2004, thanks to strong exports.

August 2005: Alupro has expressed concern over whether producer responsibility money is being used correctly to increase the recycling of aluminium packaging waste. August 2005: The Advisory Committee on Packaging is to set up a new task force to look into the issue of exports of packaging waste. August 2005: The government's Advisory Committee on Packaging has hit out at the Environment Agency for not supporting a national data system for packaging recovery. August 2005: Plastics reprocessor SS Thermoplastics, whose owner was convicted of obtaining monies by deceit after over-issuing PRNs, has been re-accredited to continue issuing PRNs. July 2005: Wastepack has warned that producer responsibility funds are not being properly invested in new infrastructure to increase packaging waste recycling rates. June 2005: Defra is to continue its investigation into allegations of inappropriate issuing of packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs), this time in the paper sector. June 2005: The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted a packaging waste reprocessor for the fraudulent issuing of PRNs for the first time. June 2005: SEPA has confirmed that two compliance schemes registered in Scotland failed to comply with the Packaging Regulations in 2004, but they will continue operations in 2005. June 2005: Defra’s head of producer responsibility has said all those with recovery obligations under the regulations must put more efforts into securing collection arrangements. June 2005: A weakness in the regulation of the packaging waste recovery note system has been criticised by compliance scheme Compliance Link. June 2005: Valpak chief executive backs current system of packaging waste producer responsibility, stating that with "careful management" it will deliver EU recovery targets.

June 2005:  Reprocessing data - Q1, 2005  Latest reprocessing figures show a 5% in packaging waste  recycling compared to the same period in 2004. But,  concerns on aluminium and steel reprocessing have emerged.

May 2005: The packaging waste recovery note (PRN) system has failed to provide the framework needed to reach European recovery targets in 2008, a leading expert has said. May 2005: Alupro has obtained new Environment Agency data revealing enough aluminium cans were recycled in 2004 to meet the government target. May 2005: Compliance scheme Wespack has taken on the majority of the former members of de-registered scheme Cleanapack. May 2005: De-registered compliance scheme Cleanapack is talking to four other schemes about the possibility of taking on its members' obligations for packaging waste. May 2005: Recycling services provider Wastelink has said that Defra figures show that "someone purchased 220,000 PRNs last year that they did not need to meet their 2004 obligation." May 2005: Cleanapack, the compliance scheme run by international waste giant Cleanaway, has been turned down for 2005 registration by the Environment Agency. April 2005: The Environment Agency has confirmed that 16 of the 20 compliance schemes registered in England have complied with their recycling obligations for packaging waste in 2004. The four remaining schemes face further assessment. April 2005: The Environment Agency has been given increased flexibility in the way it accredits reprocessors and exporters to issue packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs).

April 2005: Reprocessing data - 2004 total  New packaging recovery data shows the UK missed its  overall recycling target for packaging waste in 2004, but  achieved its recovery target.

March 2005: Consultation on leased/franchise packaging  Companies handling significant quantities of leased packaging  will have to pay for the recovery and recycling of packaging  waste under new proposals unveiled by Defra.

March 2005: The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency is in talks with two of its packaging waste compliance schemes concerning their packaging recovery obligations in 2004. February 2005: New harmonised standards for European packaging manufacturers have come under fire for failing to promote the recycling, re-use or reduction of packaging waste. February 2005: Packaging industry organisation INCPEN has warned that WRAP's waste minimisation remit could be too narrow to be fully effective. February 2005: The wood recovery sector's packaging verification protocol is now close to completion, the Wood Recyclers Association has said.

February 2005: Consultation on reprocessor accreditation  Defra has rushed out an "urgent" three-week consultation on  the accreditation of packaging waste reprocessors and  exporters.

January 2005: Some of the biggest compliance schemes in the UK packaging waste sector reveal they believe they have complied with the packaging regulations in 2004. January 2005: After packaging waste exporters voice their concerns over accreditation rules, Defra pledges to remedy export difficulties "as quickly as we can". December 2004: UK compliance schemes write to environment minister Elliot Morley warning that UK compliance with the Packaging Directive is being threatened by restrictive legislation. December 2004: The prices of steel, aluminium and plastic PRNs soar and the market for packaging waste recovery notes falls into turmoil as the end of the 2004 compliance year draws near.

November 2004:   Reprocessing data - Q3, 2004  Defra releases packaging waste recovery and recycling data  for the third quarter of 2004.  Shortage of plastic PRNs in Q3: Analysis of the Q3 data  suggests a potential surplus of glass PRNs this year. Warning from compliance schemes: Obligated packaging waste producers could face problems complying with material-specific recovery obligations.

November 2004: The waste wood industry is expecting to introduce its voluntary wood packaging protocol in the early part of next year. November 2004: Major retailers and their supply chains are being given £8 million to reduce the amount of packaging used in the sale of their products. October 2004: Producers of packaging waste should be required to pay for the collection of a certain proportion of the materials from the household waste stream, LARAC has said. October 2004: New report warns that the current packaging waste recovery note system does not create required investment in recycling infrastructure". September 2004: Plastics industry to draw up a voluntary protocol to guard against the inappropriate issuing of packaging waste recovery notes. September 2004: The police have been called in to investigate allegations of fraud in the plastic packaging waste sector, September 2004: UK recovered paper merchants voiced alarm at the prospect of not being able to issue export-PRNs for some of the material they send overseas next year. September 2004: PRN prices for several materials have slipped downwards following the release of quarter two reprocessing figures for 2004.

August 2004:  Reprocessing data - Q2, 2004  The latest packaging waste recovery figures - for the first  half of 2004 - reveal a drop in the amount of plastic  packaging being recycled.

August 2004: A leading figure in the paper recycling sector has raised concerns about the amount of investment going into the UK packaging waste recycling infrastructure.

July 2004:  Reprocessing data - Q1, 2004  New data from Defra has revealed a significant rise in the  amount of packaging obligated for recycling under the  Packaging Regulations.

June 2004: Glass collection infrastructure needs to radically increase in the UK if the country is to meet its targets under the Packaging Waste Directive, according to British Glass. May 2004: Problems with the German government's deposit system on single-use drinks packaging helped reduce packaging recycling rates in Germany, according to compliance scheme DSD. May 2004: The European Court of Justice is likely to rule that the German government's deposit system on single-use drinks packaging is unlawful, it has emerged.

April 2004:  Reprocessing data - 2003 total  New packaging waste recovery figures - for the whole  of 2003 show reprocessors met industry recovery and  recycling targets for 2003 fairly easily.

March 2004: The Environment Agency has asked the police to investigate after packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs) were issued from a PRN book after accreditation of the company which had the book was removed. February 2004: Following last year's "fact-finding exercise" into the inappropriate issuing of packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs) in the wood recycling sector, DEFRA is investigating allegations made against plastics reprocessors. December 2003: Europe has confirmed that incineration of packaging waste will continue to count towards recovery targets but has also called for a general review of the issue.

December 2003:   Changes to the UK packaging regulations New recovery targets: The government sets new packaging  waste recovery and recycling targets for 2004 to 2008. Regulations tightened: Defra is to amend the packaging waste recovery note system following the consultation. letsrecycle.com analysis: The new 2004-08 packaging recovery targets.

November 2003: The European Parliament and Council of Ministers has resumed talks aimed at finalising amendments to the EU packaging waste recovery and recycling regulations. The deadline for resolution is December 31, 2003.

October 2003:   Responses to Defra packaging consultation: Valpak: Packaging waste recovery targets should be set early and long-term. Wastepak: Government's proposed recovery targets could cause "chaos" in the market Biffpack: Increased level of monitoring needed, but Agencies may not be correct bodies to carry it out. Recycling Industries Alliance: Compliance schemes should be banned from materials trading activities.

October 2003: Energy-from-waste definitions  EU negotiations on packaging waste recovery targets  have run into trouble over the question of whether  energy-from-waste incineration counts as recovery.

September 2003: The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee has spoken out against the possibility of material specific recycling targets for councils. August 2003: The wood recycling industry could bring in third party verification on top of existing checks by the regulatory agencies to improve the accuracy of data in UK packaging wood recovery.

July 2003: Consultation on regulations and targets  The Defra issued a consultation paper on UK packaging  waste recovery regulations.

July 2003: Reprocessing figures downgraded  Reprocessing figures for 2002 have been adjusted after  Defra discovered inappropriate activity in the wood  reprocessing sector.

July 2003: Member State packaging recovery targets  The European Parliament has backed down over  the next date for packaging waste recovery targets to be  achieved, agreeing that targets should be set for 2008.

June 2003: Definitions of "recovery" and "disposal"  The European Commission is evaluating the Court  of Justice ruling that could result in the incineration of  packaging waste not counting towards recovery targets.

June 2003: Mayer Parry Recycling has lost its claim to be deemed as a recycler of scrap metal when it turned it into a grade that could be used in a steelworks. June 2003: The government's Advisory Committee on Packaging has called for "urgent action" to divert more packaging waste from the household waste stream in its report to ministers. June 2003: An investigation is looking into the potential double counting of tens of thousands of export packaging waste recovery notes (PERNs) in the paper sector. May 2003: As MEPs discuss revisions to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive prior to a second reading in the European Parliament in June or July 2003, rapporteur Dorette Corby has outlined the final version of her proposals.

April 2003: As the industry begins to ask questions on how packaging waste recovery targets will shape up over the next few years, letsrecycle.com looks into the possibilities.

April 2003: Environment minister Michael Meacher has ordered an investigation into allegations that some reprocessors may have inappropriately issued PRNs. March 2003: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has defended its record as a regulator in the packaging waste sector after securing its first prosecution under the regulations. March 2003: The European Parliament is gearing up towards the second reading of the amendments to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive. March 2003: The Environment Agency has confirmed the presence of fraud in the packaging waste recovery note (PRN) system. January 2003: The government will be advised to opt for a longer-term system of targets for packaging waste recovery, including challenging material-specific targets, according to ACP chairman John Turner. December 2002: The Compliance Scheme Working Group (CoSWiG) has raised the issue of fraud in the PRN system with environment minister Michael Meacher. December 2002: Government action is needed if the PRN system to drive the recovery of packaging waste is to survive, according to industry experts. October 2002: The European Council of Ministers has amended the Corbey proposals to adjust packaging waste recovery targets, pushing back the first deadline to 31 December 2008 and setting the overall recycling target at a 55% minimum.

October 2002: Recovery targets set for 2003  Environment minister Michael Meacher has said UK packaging  waste targets will remain unchanged for 2003 - a 59% recovery  target and a 19% material-specific recycling target.

September 2002:  Reprocessing data - Jan-June 2002  The Environment Agency has released reprocessing data  for the period January to June 2002 showing that the UK  is on course to improve on 2001 recovery rates.

September 2002: Figures in the UK packaging waste industry have reacted with concern following the European Parliament's first vote on Dutch MEP Dorette Corbey's proposals to change the current packaging waste recycling targets for 2006. August 2002: The House of Lords trade and industry subcommittee has released its report following the last few months' inquiry on the costs to industry associated with the European packaging waste directive. July 2002: Proposals amended from those originally set out by Dutch MEP Dorette Corbey to tighten packaging waste recycling targets to 65% by December 2008 have been accepted by the European Union Environment Committee. May 2002: Packaging waste regulations have been clarified after Valpak and the Environment Agency were informed that brewers do not bear the recycling burden for items consumed in pubs and licensed restaurants. April 2002: Compliance scheme Wastepack has been formally warned by its regulator, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) over its 2001 compliance plan. March 2002: The UK has called for the 2006 packaging waste targets to be put back to 2008 due to European Commission delays in publishing information. The Commission has said that it may consider the UK as a special case and relax targets for glass recycling. March 2002: While the Environment Agency has confirmed that, subject to verification, compliance schemes in England and Wales have met their 2001 obligations, the Agency's Scottish counterpart, SEPA, is still to confirm details.

January 2002: Targets set for 2002  Still working to current EU recycling targets for 2006 which  could be subject to revision, Defra has set a national  packaging recovery target of 59% recycling.

December 2001: Environment Minister Michael Meacher has proposed a 60% packaging waste recovery target for 2002 but is facing opposition from the Department of Trade and Industry, which wants a 59% target. October 2001: Deep divisions over the future of EU policy on packaging waste have emerged in the European Parliament with pro-industry MEPs succeeding in blocking a report from Dorette Corbey MEP demanding radical new legislation. September 2001: Government suggestions for a 61% recovery target in 2002 have provoked concern in the industry. August 2001: A report produced by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency shows that last year 17% of companies not in compliance schemes who submitted packaging waste data had to recalculate their figures. July 2001: Questions have been raised over whether action will be taken against businesses who fail to comply. Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has raised concerns that some businesses may buy too many PRNs to protect themselves in case their data is wrong. March 2001: The Compliance Schemes Working Group (CoSWiG) has been formed to help schemes in dealing with packaging waste regulation.

January 2001: The Government has conceded that the UK will miss its 50% EU obligation this year, so a steeper target of 56% has been set. letsrecycle.com looks at the current situation.

December 2000: Otto Linher, who heads the packaging work in the European Commission’s environment directorate, told a Parliamentary meeting of plans for higher packaging waste targets in 2006.

November 2000: Recovery targets set for 2001  The government has set the overall recovery and recycling  target for 2001 under the Packaging Waste Regulations at  56%. The specific target for each material will be 18%.

September 2000: letsrecycle.com reports on how the UK implemented EU regulations on packaging waste and lays out how the packaging waste recovery note (PRN) system of compliance operates.