Brussels, 10/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is proposing to amend Directive 95/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste to introduce substantially higher general targets and specific targets for plastics, metals, paper/board and glass to prevent or minimise the impact of packaging through recovery and recycling targets. The new targets adopted on Friday are substantially higher than the 2001 targets in the current directive and must be achieved in 2006. The new targets are:
Overall recovery: 60-75% (compared with 50-65% in 2001). Overall recycling: 55-70% (compared with 25-45% in 2001). The current material-specific recycling targets (currently set at 15% for each element recycled) will be increased to 60% for glass; 55% for paper and board; 50% for metals; and 20% for plastics (mechanical and chemical recycling only (excluding feedstock recycling) to help support these environmentally friendlier but more costly methods of plastics recycling).