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.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

“Christmas is a time when, more than ever, we all notice the amount of packaging that comes with the things we buy. 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 one per cent per year, from 71 per cent in 2012 to 76 per cent by 2017;
• Increase the aluminium recycling target by three per cent per year, from 40 per cent in 2012 to 55 per cent in 2017;
• Increase the plastics recycling target by five per cent per year, from 32 per cent to 57 per cent by 2017; and
• Increase the overall packaging recovery rate by one per cent each year, from 74 per cent in 2012 to 79 per cent in 2017.

The proposed targets would also see glass recycling split into sub-categories to boost the amount of glass that is 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 Friday 10 February 2012 with a final decision on the new targets announced in the 2012 Budget.

Notes to Editors

The consultation can be found on the Defra website here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2011/12/16/packaging-regs/

Under an EU directive, all UK businesses which make or handle packaging have to ensure that a proportion of what they put on the market is recycled each year.

The statistics show that the UK has met current international targets to reduce total emissions by 2010 of four air pollutants  - ammonia, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides.

• Full statistical release (PDF)