Speaking at a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) conference to highlight the new Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations SI 2005/3468, which came into force on 16 December 2005, Lord Bach suggested that more needs to be done to make sure the UK meets their 2008 packaging and recovery targets. The UK now recycles some 50% of waste, which is double the amount recycled in 1996. While this demonstrates considerable progress, there needs to be a greater focus on minimisation. Despite all the good work, packaging waste has increased by over a million tonnes in the last seven years, a trend which should not be allowed to continue. The new Regulations set revised recovery and recycling targets, and Lord Bach argued that businesses should be encouraged to engage more with local authorities, the waste industry and consumers in a bid to meet these provisions.
In other recycling news, the east of England lead the way with levels of around 50% in some areas, averaging out to almost 30%. The north east however, remains the lowest recycling region with an average of 16.4%, closely followed by London with 17.7%. In total, England's average recycling stands at 23%, meaning the target of 25% through 2005 and 2006 is more than attainable.
