Budget special: New packaging targets

Legislation later this year will increase statutory packaging recycling targets by between 1% and 5%, the chancellor confirmed, following a Defra consultation

The proposed new targets include: an increase of 1% a year in the steel-recycling target, from 71% in 2012, to 76% in 2017; a rise of 3% a year in the aluminium recycling target, from 40% in 2012, to 55% in 2017; and a 5% a year increase in plastic recycling targets, from 32% in 2012 to 57% by 2017.

Glass-recycling targets will be split into subcategories from 2013 to boost the amount of glass that is remelted, with the remelting targets for individual businesses with an obligation in glass rising from 63% in 2013–15 to 64% in 2016–17.

Paper, card and wood recycling targets will remain unchanged. The Budget also set a 1% annual increase in the overall packaging recovery rate, from 74% in 2012, to 79% in 2017. The higher packaging recycling targets will stop 400,000 tonnes of packaging going to landfill by 2017, said Defra.

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