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Packaging targets proposals announced
Consultation period begins
19 December 2011
19 December 2011
The Environment Secretary, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP has announced proposals for higher packaging recycling targets which aim to divert 400,000 tonnes of packaging from landfill by 2017. The higher recycling targets announced will also have the added benefit of increasing the amount of recyclable material available and will reduce the demand for virgin natural materials. The new targets are to increase the steel recycling target by one percent per year starting from 71% in 2012, reaching 76% in 2017. Secondly, the targets for aluminum are to be increased by 3% a year, starting from 40% in 2012 and reaching 55% in 2017. Thirdly, it is proposed that plastics increase by 5% per year from 32% to 57% by 2017. Lastly, the overall packaging recovery rate is proposed to increase by one percent each year from 74% in 2012 to 79% in 2017. Mrs Spelman made the following announcement, prior to the festive season: ‘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.’ A consultation on the packaging targets shall now run for eight weeks with the Government making its response on the final targets within the 2012 budget.
