Packaging rules give firms more time to meet recovery obligations

The final draft of regulations which will implement the 1994 EC Directive on packaging waste was laid before Parliament in January and - barring an early general election - should become law in March.¹ New, "more realistic" interim recovery and recycling targets, and an exemption of more than two years for smaller businesses and wholesalers, have provided a slower build-up to the full targets for 2001 set by the Directive - but many observers still believe that the UK will fail to meet the EC targets. Meanwhile, issues such as evidence of compliance and fair participation in recovery of household packaging waste remain unresolved.