Welcome to the Online News page of the Agritel Ltd website.UK reviews packaging waste recycling target
- Plastics & Rubber Weekly, 26 August 2005
Higher targets for recycling plastics packaging waste were due to come into force across Europe last week. But so far only Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg and the UK have transposed the new EU packaging directive into national law.
The new target states 22.5% of plastics packaging waste should be recycled; the previous target was 15%. According to EU figures, five countries are already ahead of the new figure - Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Luxembourg. Bottom of the list were Greece and Portugal, recycling just 3% and 9% respectively.
The established EU member states have until the end of 2008 to meet the target. Recent entrants - mainly central and eastern European countries - have an extension until 2010, while Greece, Ireland and Portugal have a 2011 deadline. Environment commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "The new recycling targets are a further step on our way towards a more sustainable society. They strengthen the recyling industry. I am confident member states will do their utmost to implement the new rules swiftly."
Earlier this year, plastics packaging recycling body Recoup warned there was much to do in collection and recycling if the UK is to meet the 2008 targets. Chief Executive Andrew Simmons predicted a shortfall of 115,000 tonnes - 23% off the target - if the current situation continues.
Defra this week opened a consultation looking at future packaging recycling and recovery targets for businesses between 2006 and 2010. With six weeks until the deadline of 3 October, interested parties are urged to respond to the Consultation Paper on Meeting Directive Targets in 2008 with haste. Defra said the short timescale was necessary to introduce changes to the targets by 1 January 2006. The consultation includes proposals to amend the UK business targets up to 2008 and set indicative targets for 2009 and 2010. It will also investigate simplifying and clarifying the approval of compliance schemes.
Reproduced by kind permission of Plastics & Rubber Weekly.
Higher targets for recycling plastics packaging waste were due to come into force across Europe last week. But so far only Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg and the UK have transposed the new EU packaging directive into national law.
The new target states 22.5% of plastics packaging waste should be recycled; the previous target was 15%. According to EU figures, five countries are already ahead of the new figure - Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Luxembourg. Bottom of the list were Greece and Portugal, recycling just 3% and 9% respectively.
The established EU member states have until the end of 2008 to meet the target. Recent entrants - mainly central and eastern European countries - have an extension until 2010, while Greece, Ireland and Portugal have a 2011 deadline. Environment commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "The new recycling targets are a further step on our way towards a more sustainable society. They strengthen the recyling industry. I am confident member states will do their utmost to implement the new rules swiftly."
Earlier this year, plastics packaging recycling body Recoup warned there was much to do in collection and recycling if the UK is to meet the 2008 targets. Chief Executive Andrew Simmons predicted a shortfall of 115,000 tonnes - 23% off the target - if the current situation continues.
Defra this week opened a consultation looking at future packaging recycling and recovery targets for businesses between 2006 and 2010. With six weeks until the deadline of 3 October, interested parties are urged to respond to the Consultation Paper on Meeting Directive Targets in 2008 with haste. Defra said the short timescale was necessary to introduce changes to the targets by 1 January 2006. The consultation includes proposals to amend the UK business targets up to 2008 and set indicative targets for 2009 and 2010. It will also investigate simplifying and clarifying the approval of compliance schemes.
Reproduced by kind permission of Plastics & Rubber Weekly.