Mr Bach said that although positive strides had been made in terms of recycling packaging waste there needed to be more focus on cutting down the amount of waste that needs to be dealt with.
” There needs to be a greater focus on minimisation – and that focus must start today “
– Lord Bach, Defra
Speaking at a Defra-organised conference on packaging targets in London today, he explained: “The efforts everyone has made in terms of recycling packaging waste have already resulted in considerable progress, and thanks to this we are now recycling almost 50 per cent of our packaging waste – double that in 1997.
“But there needs to be a greater focus on minimisation – and that focus must start today. Packaging waste has increased by over a million tonnes in the last seven years and this cannot continue,” he said.
Targets
At the conference new regulations were highlighted, which set revised recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste.
Mr Bach also called for businesses, local authorities, the waste industry and consumers to work closer together.
“Consumers rightly have an important role to play – by choosing goods that are not heavily packaged, buying 'loose' food rather than pre-packaged food, or using their own shopping bags or boxes.
“However, more needs to be done by industry to offer the public this choice, and demonstrate to them where you have already made progress in terms of reducing the size and weight of certain packaging,” he added.
Mr Bach concluded that new regulations will present some challenges to the UK packaging and recycling industry. But by working together – from Government right down through business and on to consumers – he felt confident they can be met.
Register for free to comment