7 January 2011

Changes National Recycling and Recovery Targets for Packaging Waste

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 have set the packaging recycling and recovery targets that companies have to meet until 2012. Click here to download the latest guidance document.

The recovery target for the years 2010 to 2012 is 74%. And the specific targets for particular groups of materials are set out below :-

Table 2: Recycling targets
Material               2010      2011      2012
Glass                   81           81           81
Aluminium          40           40           40
Steel                     69           71           71
Paper/Board       69.5        69.5        69.5
Plastic                  29           32           32
Wood                    22           22           22

The recycling allocation for businesses with a turnover of £5 million or below to opt for compliance using an “allocated’ obligation directly linked to their turnover. The allocation for 2010 -12 remains at  29 tonnes per £1 million of turnover in the most predominant material used.

Details  of the amendments can be found at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2849/contents/made
Scroll down to Section 17 Amendment to Schedule 2.

New Obligated Companies
Any company with audit accounts prior to 7th April 2010 showing their turnover has reached in excess of £2million that also produced or use 50 tonnes of packaging ( paper, board, shrink wrap, strapping, new wooden pallets etc) in the calendar year ending 31st December 2010  are obligated under these regulations and would newly obligated under these regulations and required to register with a compliance scheme or the Environment Agency before the 7th April 2011.

For further guidance please contact Liz Cheetham , Health Safety and Environmental Adviser.