Defra announces new UK recycling targets

The new targets for packaging producers will also ease the demand on raw natural materials and improve resource efficiency by making more recyclable materials available for businesses.

“Christmas is a time when, more than ever, we all notice the amount of packaging that comes with the things we buy,” said Spelman. “An alarming amount of this is still going to landfill.

“These new, more ambitious targets will deliver real environmental and economic benefits. They will give a new incentive to companies to cut down on excess packaging and increase efforts to have their materials recycled.”

The proposed new targets are:

• Increase the steel recycling target by 1% per year, from 71% in 2012 to 76% by 2017.
• Increase the aluminium recycling target by 3% per year, from 40% in 2012 to 55% in 2017.
• Increase the plastics recycling target by 5% per year, from 32% to 57% by 2017.
• Increase the overall packaging recovery rate by 1% each year, from 74% in 2012 to 79% in 2017.

The proposed targets would also see glass recycling split into subcategories to boost the amount of glass that’s re-​melted. This is more environmentally friendly than using it as an aggregate in such things as building materials.

These targets have been drawn up following recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Packaging and fulfil a commitment in the Waste Review, published in the summer, to consult on increased recycling targets. This balances the need for environmental ambition and affordability for businesses and government.

A consultation on the new packaging recycling targets will run for eight weeks, closing on 10 February 2012 with a final decision on the new targets announced in the 2012 budget.

Source: Defra

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