CPI director of external affairs Kathy Bradley said the group was quietly pleased the targets and other improvements had been announced, and that recovery levels had been increased.

You feel the lobbying that you have done over the past years has been worth it, she said.

Targets that had stayed unchanged in 2003 were disastrous, and Bradley said this had been reflected in the lack of demand for PRNs.

The Government has confirmed it intends to increase the business targets for packaging waste from the present 59% recovery and 19% material specific levels.

The recovery targets for paper will increase 65% from next year, and then by 1% per annum until they reach 70% in 2008.

Bradley said the fact targets had been set for a number of years would help businesses plan for the future. and would hopefully create the necessary demand needed for PRNs.

A number of other recommendations put forward by the CPI, including an increase in the level of monitoring of compliance schemes and ministerial approval for compliance schemes, had also been met.

Story by Andy Scott