This EU challenge to UK policy was reinforced in 1999 by the passing of the EU Landfill Directive (99/31/EC), with targets to reduce the quantity of biodegradable municipal waste land-filled, with reference to that produced in 1995 to 75% by 2010, 50% by 2013 and 35% by 2020. The first, generalised response to the Packaging Directive was the landfill tax, introduced in 1996 at GBP 7 per tonne of active waste and GBP 2 per tonne of inactive waste. These rates were set to be equal to the estimated externalities of landfill, but the rates were soon raised above.