Environment Minister Elliott Morley has called for plastic packaging manufacturers to become "more closely involved in the design of packaging", with "consideration for recyclability" and the incorporation of recycled plastics.
Speaking at plastic bottle recycling body Recoup’s AGM, the Minister said that not only should converters strive to increase the amounts of recyclate used in their plastic packs, but that plastic packaging users should endeavour to specify more containers with a recycled content. He also referred to an ongoing DETR review of deposit systems for bottles, which he said could have a “significant impact” on the plastic bottle sector.
“The UK will struggle to meet the Directive targets unless local authorities and those in the packaging regulations work together to find ways of extracting more packaging from the household waste stream,” he argued, before paying tribute to Recoup’s work, and in particular its role in raising public and industry awareness of the value of recycling plastic.