Packaging recycling targets to rise from 2008

Further cuts in packaging waste are an essential part of reducing our reliance on landfill and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

 
Joan Ruddock

The targets apply to the UK's packaging producer responsibility system, in which companies in the packaging chain must fund the recycling of packaging waste.

Defra's proposals include significant rises in glass, aluminium and steel recycling targets.

The consultation closes on 30 November 2007.

New business targets are to help the UK meet its obligations under the European Packaging Directive next year, but higher targets are also proposed for 2009 and beyond, to increase the level of recovery and recycling.

After 2008 it is at the discretion of Member States to set targets beyond the minimum required by the Packaging Directive, Defra said, and the UK government has made clear that its aim is to continue to improve performance on packaging waste “because of the environmental benefits this brings”.

Announcing the consultation, minister Joan Ruddock said: “Since the introduction of the UK Packaging Regulations packaging recycling has improved significantly, from just 27% in 1997 to over 57% last year. But there is much more to be done. Further cuts in packaging waste are an essential part of reducing our reliance on landfill and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

“The higher targets can also act as a driver to help design out unnecessary packaging in future.”

Targets

The EU minimum recycling and recovery targets are 55% and 60% respectively. The government's preferred option would increase the recycling target to 55.7% in 2008, 56.8% in 2009 and 58.4% in 2010, and the recovery target to 60.6%, 61.8% and 63.4% in the same years.

Compared to the existing targets as set in November 2005 (see letsrecycle.com report), the government's proposals mean significant increases in the recycling required for glass, aluminium and steel packaging waste in the next three years up to 2010.

Plastic packaging recycling targets in the next three years have been slightly increased, while paper targets were slightly raised for 2009 and 2010, and the wood target for 2010 has been slightly raised.

Overall recovery targets for packaging waste have also been slightly increased for 2008 to 2010.

On top of these increases, the government has also put forward proposed targets for the 2011 and 2012 compliance years.

Defra said recycling packaging reduces carbon dioxide emissions to atmosphere, “because less energy is used to extract and process recycled materials than virgin ones, particularly materials like aluminium”.

The Department claimed that as well as the environmental benefits of cutting carbon emissions and reducing reliance on landfill, its proposals have cost benefits of around £1.1m – the difference between the estimated costs to producers of £7.7m, and carbon savings estimated at £8.8m.

The proposals are consistent with the Government's 'polluter pays' principal, and the aims of the new Waste Strategy for England which was published in May, it added.