Figures from the packaging industry about plastic recycling are often up to 15% wrong, making it impossible to gather a reliable picture of the success of the scheme, environment ministry inspectors are quoted as saying by Nos tv.

MPs had asked questions about the success of efforts to stimulate plastic recycling since 2005. By 2009, some 32% of plastic waste should have been recycled but it is impossible to say if that has been achieved, the inspectors said.