The UK newspaper industry increased its newsprint recycling to 68.6 per cent in 2003.

The figure is an improvement on the previous figure of 65.1 per cent from the previous year.

The first two recycled content targets were met ahead of schedule and the next target is 70 per cent by the end of 2006 - but there would be growing concerns over quality if the target moved beyond that figure.

The newspaper industry is committed to achieving the targets after setting up an agreement with the Government - and individual newspapers carry out further 'green' work by printing regular statements for readers about the recycling progress being made. The industry is committed, by the producer responsibility agreement, to carrying the recycling logo and the recycled content percentage figure in a prominent position, on a daily or weekly basis.

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