Defra recently commissioned some research in the recycling of plastic packaging which found that about 4% more packaging was being recycled than had been expected.

Since the recycling targets set for plastics were seen as quite ambitious this result is interpreted as an indication that they were easier to meet than was thought. So obviously Defra is now considering making the targets more stringent.

The report argues that if current trends continue, the UK could achieve a recycling rate of 38% by 2017, and 43% by 2020.

However the packaging industry has argued that that the main reason for their success is the shift to lighter weight packaging.