Packaging Waste

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (as amended) set minimum Recovery (60%) and Recycling (55%) targets for Packaging waste to be met by 31 December 2008, as well as material specific targets.

Material Specific Targets

These material specific targets were:

• Glass 60%
• Paper and Cardboard 50%
• Metal 50%
• Plastic 22.5%
• Wood 15%

Member States must continue to meet these minimum standards, but are free to set higher domestic targets if they chose. The provisional figures indicate 70.2% of UK Packaging Waste was either recycled or recovered in 2017 . The mechanism used to deliver evidence and drive the Packaging Waste targets is delivered in the UK through the PRN system.

UK Targets and Progress

Packaging Waste and Recycling/Recovery, split by material, UK 2017 (provisional)

	Packaging Waste Arising (kt)	Total Recovered/Recycled (kt)	Achieved Recovery/Recycling Rate (%)	EU Target Recovery/Recycling Rate (%)
Metal	736	525	71.3%	50.0%
of which: Aluminium	177	94	53.1%	z
of which: Steel	559	431	77.1%	z
Paper and Cardboard	4,749	3,754	79.0%	60.0%
Glass	2,399	1,623	67.6%	60.0%
Plastic	2,260	1,044	46.2%	22.5%
Wood	1,310	411	31.4%	15.0%
Other Materials	23	0	0.0%	z
Total (for Recycling)	11,476	7,357	64.1%	55.0%
Energy from Waste	z	700	6.1%	z
Total (for Recycling and Recovery)	11,476	8,057	70.2%	60.0%

z = Not applicable

Arisings estimates made at point of manufacture.