Packaging & packaging waste
Latest news
- July 2008: Summary of responses to broadly equivalent consultation
- March 2008: Business recycling and recovery targets for 2008
In 2007 the UK disposed of an estimated 10.5 million tonnes of packaging waste, of which around 59 % (Source NPWD) was recovered and recycled. This is a significant achievement when compared to the fact that only 27% of packaging waste was recovered in 1998 (Source publication: e-Digest of Environmental Statistics, March 2006). However, more still needs to be done and Defra will continue working to:
- minimise the amount of packaging used and so the amount of packaging waste, and
- ensure that a high proportion of packaging materials are recovered and recycled
The management of packaging and packaging waste is enforced by EC directive 94/62/EC which seeks to reduce the impact of packaging and packaging waste on the environment by introducing recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste and by encouraging minimisation and reuse.
Further information
See also
- WRAP’s Courtauld Commitment: striving for real reductions in packaging and food waste
- WRAP: working with manufacturers to minimise packaging
Page last modified: 16 July 2008
Page published: 5 February 2003