Recovery and recycling targets for packaging scaled down

The ambitious ten-year recovery and recycling targets for all packaging materials appear certain to be deleted from the EC Directive on packaging waste following the first serious discussion of the proposal by Environment Ministers on 5 October. A revised proposal subsequently drawn up by the Belgian Presidency would allow Member States more room to determine which materials should be recycled within an overall 50% recovery and 30% recycling rate - but opinions on these ideas are still polarised and an agreement on the Directive is unlikely till next year.