The report reviews the recycled content agreement targets agreed by newspapers with the government in April 2000, and assesses to what extent they are achievable.

The agreement set the following recycled content targets for standard newsprint:
* 60% by the end of 2001
* 65% by the end of 2003
* 70% by the end of 2006

Paul Planet, chairman of the British Newsprint Manufacturers Association, said that unless there were any further developments in production, such as a new machine at one of the UK sites, then any growth in production would only come from imports and not from additional capacity.

The report said the new facility at Shotton would be crucial, and that the achievement of the 2003 target would depend on how quickly it is phased in.

If commissioning of the new plant slips into 2004, the target may not be met, even if waste paper input from imports is maintained, it continued.

The report has been passed on to environment minister Michael Meacher.

Story by Andy Scott