Industry responses to a Government consultation on amending current Packaging Regulations, published yesterday (20 March), show widespread agreement in lowering recycling targets for glass packaging to 75% (down from 81%).

This year, the glass recycling target will be 75%, 76% in 2015 and then 77% from 2016 onwards.

It will also increase the remelt/aggregate split to 65% remelt in 2014, 66% in 2015 and 67% in 2016.

In its consultation document, Defra wrote: “The targets reflect new and better evidence of both the total levels of glass packaging being placed on the market/available for recycling, and the proportion available for remelt.

“Government has decided to proceed with this ‘hybrid’ option as it provides the best of both worlds – it reduces the target with immediate effect to a level which should have a very real impact on glass PRN prices.

“However, setting an incrementally increasing glass target gives industry a clear investment signal and time to invest. This should enable higher recycling rates to be delivered in future at a lower cost than currently possible.”

Defra said that it is set to bring amended regulations forward to the “earliest possible” timetable and the recycling targets will apply retrospectively for compliance year 2014.
Liz Gyekye

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