There will be no increase in packaging recycling targets for 2011-12 except for steel & plastic, DEFRA said in October. The announcement was made alongside the publication of responses to a consultation, released in March, on the previous government's packaging strategy. This had set more ambitious recycling objectives. Steels target will rise from 69% this year to 71% for 2011-12; plastics will increase from 29-32%. The targets for all other materials are identical to those in 2010. The total recycling & recovery targets are also unchanged at 68.1% & 74% respectively. The government says that the increases are effectively a holding position, pending the waste review which is due to be completed May 2011. The packaging strategy consultation discussed targets up to 2020, but DEFRA now says it does not wish to do this before the review is completed.
