The UK implemented the Directive through the Packaging Waste Regulations and
the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations. The former Regulations
place requirements on business to measure the amount of packaging they make
or sell and to recover a proportion of it.
The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations set standards for the
design of packaging: how easy it must be to recycle, what materials it can
contain and so on.
These specific measures on packaging are part of a wider range of government initiatives aimed at reducing waste generally, not just packaging. The government's policy on waste in England and Wales is included in their Waste Strategy 2000. Documents for Northern Ireland and Scotland have also been produced.
These strategies identify that increasing amounts of waste must be recovered and set a range of targets to help achieve this. Another key area is the development of markets for recycled materials, and the government has launched the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to promote this.
Local authorities across the country are also developing strategies and the government has set them targets to meet for recycling. It is likely that we will see increasing initiatives by councils and waste companies as they strive to meet all these targets.
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Click here to find contacts at your local authority.
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