Plastics packaging recovery and recycling targets are being raised progressively in the UK over the next three years in a bid to tackle climate change. The plastics recycling level was 24% in 2007 and is being increased to 26% in the current year, 27% in 2009 and 29% in 2010. If these targets are reached, the estimated carbon savings will be over 594,000 t in 2008, 627,000 t in 2009 and 693,500 t in 2010.

The new levels have been set by Defra (Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; www.defra.gov.uk), but have still to be agreed by government. They are part of a wider programme embracing paper, glass, aluminium, steel and wood that is targeting overall packaging recovery of 72% this year, 73% in 2009 and 74% in 2010. The new levels will ensure the UK meets its 2008 EU Directive target of recycling at least 60% of its packaging waste.

Welcoming the Defra targets, James Crick, development director at Nampak Plastics (Newport Pagnell / UK; www.eu.plastics.nampak.com) said the last few years had witnessed a great deal of innovation to improve the environmental performance of plastic packaging in the UK, but “there is the obvious potential to make subsequent recycling targets more challenging”.