The proposed 2006 targets are 60-75% overall recovery and 55-70% overall recycling. Material-specific recycling targets are glass 60%, paper and board 55%, metals 50% and plastics 20%.
Speaking of the revised packaging targets, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrm said: “This initiative is designed to enhance the efforts made by industry and consumers to reduce the amount of packaging in the waste stream. It is a practical example of how the Commission is implementing its sustainable development strategy.”
The Commission's proposals to amend the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive are now being debated in the European Parliament and it is likely that further changes will be made with the final targets unlikely to be decided before the end of 2002. But it could mean that the targets for obligated companies could be as high as 66-73%.
UK waste and recycling industry representatives appear to be generally pleased that the European Commission has taken on board some concerns over the high recycling targets but there are differences of opinion over the inclusion of recovery (which includes energy from waste).
Possible
Commenting on the Commission's proposals, Phil Conran, of Biffpack, said: “It is encouraging that DG Environment appears to have taken note of the UK's concerns and reduced the recycling target whilst keeping recovery through waste to energy. The proposals would suggest an increase of approximately 1.2 million tonnes of recycling that will be needed by the UK to meet the new recycling target and an addition on business targets of approximately 12%. These are certainly still challenging, but at least they are now possible.”
A spokeswoman for Valpak agreed that the targets were challenging and said: “There is no doubt that the UK faces an uphill struggle to meet the 2006 targets as currently proposed, even though they are somewhat lower than originally predicted. However, for the UK, the latest proposal, which includes a recovery target as well as a recycling target is good news.”
But Mike Beard, of Wastepack, felt that the Commission should have gone for a recycling target which excluded incineration. He said: “I think that the inclusion of incineration in the targets is disappointing. We are not so happy about incinerating things that can be recycled and would rather have seen it cut back.”
And he added that it was paramount that companies invest in the recycling collection infrastructure to ensure that the new targets are met. Mr Beard said: “Much more needs to be done as there is no reason that reprocessors will be able to find another 1.3 million tonnes. It will only be done if companies say in their business plans that they will invest in infrastructure from the domestic waste stream. There needs to be a PRN drive to invest in collection infrastructure to achieve this amount.”
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