There has been an ‘overwhelming improvement’ in the amount of packaging waste recovered in the second quarter of 2014, provisional statistics indicate.

The National Packaging Waste Database figures for April to June 2014 show that all recyclable materials – including glass, plastics, and steel – surpassed the quarterly obligations required for the period to meet packaging recycling targets.

The amount of steel packaging recycled rose to 102,903 tonnes compared with just 78,861 tonnes in Q1, while recycling of plastics packaging came in at 233,505 tonnes – almost 40,000 tonnes above the quarterly obligation.

Glass aggregate figures also made a recovery, with 151,290 tonnes recycled compared to about 132,000 tonnes in Q1. The current quarterly obligation for the material is an estimated 134,000 tonnes.