Consultation on changes to packaging recycling business targets for paper, steel, aluminium, wood and overall recovery and recycling for 2018-20

Overview

Packaging Regulations : consultation on new packaging recycling business targets for 2018-20 for overall recovery and recycling and material specific targets for paper, steel, aluminium and wood

We want to know what you think about our plans to introduce new business targets under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations.

The regulations require producers of packaging to ensure that a proportion of the packaging they handle is recovered and recycled. The proposed changes would establish new targets for 2018-20 for overall recovery and recycling, as well new material specific targets for paper, steel, aluminium and wood.  These changes are being considered because the current targets expire in 2017.
 

Why your views matter

The existing business targets for 2013-17 were consulted on in 2011 and final targets announced at Budget in March 2012 . The targets were set using the best evidence available from business at the time.  Glass targets were revised in 2014  following the publication of the GlassFlow report. In 2015, following the publication of the PlasticFlow report the plastics targets were also amended for 2016-7, along with the establishment of new targets for plastic and glass for 2018-20. The Statutory Instrument will come into effect by the end of 2016.

The targets for the other materials (paper, steel, aluminium and wood), as well as the overall recovery and recycling targets, expire in 2017.  The Packaging Directive requires member states to deliver a specified recycling rate by 2008 and maintain that rate each year thereafter.  Therefore, without targets beyond 2017 we would be in breach of our Packaging Directive requirements and would not deliver our domestic policy.

This consultation proposes options for new material specific recycling targets for paper, steel, aluminium and wood and new overall recovery and recycling targets from 2018-20.

Please note that any alternative options for targets will be given due consideration as part of the analysis of responses.