Post by cerridwen on Apr 21, 2009 5:42:56 GMT
April 14th, 2009 by Lucy Rees
www.defra.gov.uk
Recent figures released by the government are showing that the UK exceeded EU recycling targets for packaging in 2008, but campaigners say that supermarkets should be more involved in helping combat the problem.
Current government figures confirm that nearly two-thirds of all packaging that was produced last year was recycled.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Environment Agency data reveal that, in 2008, UK businesses “contributed to the recovery” of over seven million tonnes of packaging, and that 6.6 of million tonnes of the recovered packaging were recycled.
Calculations demonstrate that approximately 8.9 million tonnes of carbon emissions were avoided by the recycling of packaging materials, which is the equivalent of the emissions generated by 1.5 million homes in the UK annually.
“This is a really significant achievement and shows that we are making good progress on the recycling of packaging,” environment minister Jane Kennedy commented. “Businesses which handle packaging have a vital role to play in reducing the amount of waste we’re sending to landfill and I’m pleased to see they’re doing their bit.”
Dr Paul Leinster, the chief executive of the Environment Agency chief said that 2008 was “the best year yet for the amount of packaging waste recycled.”
Thanks to www.businessgreen.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.
www.defra.gov.uk
www.defra.gov.uk
Recent figures released by the government are showing that the UK exceeded EU recycling targets for packaging in 2008, but campaigners say that supermarkets should be more involved in helping combat the problem.
Current government figures confirm that nearly two-thirds of all packaging that was produced last year was recycled.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Environment Agency data reveal that, in 2008, UK businesses “contributed to the recovery” of over seven million tonnes of packaging, and that 6.6 of million tonnes of the recovered packaging were recycled.
Calculations demonstrate that approximately 8.9 million tonnes of carbon emissions were avoided by the recycling of packaging materials, which is the equivalent of the emissions generated by 1.5 million homes in the UK annually.
“This is a really significant achievement and shows that we are making good progress on the recycling of packaging,” environment minister Jane Kennedy commented. “Businesses which handle packaging have a vital role to play in reducing the amount of waste we’re sending to landfill and I’m pleased to see they’re doing their bit.”
Dr Paul Leinster, the chief executive of the Environment Agency chief said that 2008 was “the best year yet for the amount of packaging waste recycled.”
Thanks to www.businessgreen.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.
www.defra.gov.uk