UK Packaging Regulations
The Packaging Waste Regulations were introduced in the UK in 1997 to meet the requirements of the European Directive on packaging and packaging waste, with the aim to not only increase the recovery and recycling of packaging waste in a consistent way but to reduce the amount of packaging used all together. Each year around 10 million tonnes of packaging waste is produced in the UK, most of which is disposed of in landfill sites and the majority of this waste could in fact be recycled. The European Commission has set the following targets for the UK to recover and recycle this packaging waste in 2008:
By 31st December 2008
- 60% of the UK’s packaging waste must be recovered.
- 55%-80% of the UK’s packaging waste must be recycled.
Material Specific Recycling:
- Paper 60%
- Glass 60%
- Metals 50%
- Plastic 22.5%
- Wood 15%
In order for us to achieve these newly set targets, the UK needs to recover approximately 4.6 million tonnes of packaging waste each year.
Any business that handles more than 50 tonnes of packaging per annum and has a turnover of more than £2 million per annum will be obligated to conform if it is involved in one or more of the following activities:
- Manufacturing raw materials for packaging
- Converting raw materials into packaging
- Filling Packaging
- Selling packaged goods to the final user
- Importing packaging/packaging materials/packaged goods into the UK for any of the above activities.
For further information please visit http://www.defra.gov.uk/.
