New rules come into effect this month (14 March) enforcing tougher targets for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste.

As previously, these rules only apply to businesses - whether they produce, use or handle packaging - and which handle more than 50 tonnes of packing or packaging materials a year and have an annual turnover of more than £2 million.

The new national targets will apply to packaging waste in Great Britain. A recovery target of 72% has been set for 2008, and this will increase again over the next two year - 73% in 2009 and 74% in 2010.

Further information on the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 can be found on the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website - link above/right.