BOTTLE RECYCLING
Recoup: Steady growth in UK market / 18% increase in 2008 / Additional investments needed
A UK-wide service conducted by plastic recycling organisation Recoup (Peterborough / UK; www.recoup.org) has found that the volume of plastic bottles collected for recycling last year increased by 18% compared to 2007. In total, 39% of plastic bottles in the UK now enter the recycling process. In 2006, the recycling rate still stood at about 20% – see Plasteurope.com of 18.06.2008.
The poll shows that some 216,067 t of polymer were recycled out of a total of 557,000 t of plastic bottles consumed in 2008. Overall, some 238,768 t of plastic packaging, including mixed plastics, was collected in 2008. The survey polled 404 respondents from local councils, waste management firms and reprocessors.
“In 2008 approximately 40% of plastic bottles from the household waste stream were collected for recycling,” explained Recoup chief executive John Simmons. “With the high level of infrastructure now in place to collect, sort and bale plastic bottles, a key challenge for the UK moving forward is to increase household participation and achieve higher recovery rates.”
The Recoup survey found that the bulk of the recycled material (168,966 t) was collected at the kerbside, a 13% increase on 2007. Local councils providing disposable bags for collection had a marginally higher average performance rate for volume per household, but household participation rates were higher for councils providing wheelie bins. A total of 321 UK local authorities now provide kerbside recycling facilities, up from 304 in 2007and representing some 70% of all households.
Commenting on the survey, James Crick, business development director at Nampak Plastic Europe (Newport Pagnell / UK; www.eu.nampak.com) said local authorities must continue to encourage residents to recycle and that the reprocessing sector will require additional investments to increase capacity. Referring to the recycling of HDPE milk bottles, which increased by 9% in 2008 compared to the preceding year and accounted for 57% of all HDPE milk bottles used, he said: “It is imperative that the upward trend in HDPE milk bottle recycling continues in order for the dairy industry to reach its packaging goals.” The industry’s target is to make half of all milk packaging from recycled materials by 2020.
e-Service:
UK Household Plastics Packaging Collection Survey as a PDF document (951 KB)
The poll shows that some 216,067 t of polymer were recycled out of a total of 557,000 t of plastic bottles consumed in 2008. Overall, some 238,768 t of plastic packaging, including mixed plastics, was collected in 2008. The survey polled 404 respondents from local councils, waste management firms and reprocessors.
“In 2008 approximately 40% of plastic bottles from the household waste stream were collected for recycling,” explained Recoup chief executive John Simmons. “With the high level of infrastructure now in place to collect, sort and bale plastic bottles, a key challenge for the UK moving forward is to increase household participation and achieve higher recovery rates.”
The Recoup survey found that the bulk of the recycled material (168,966 t) was collected at the kerbside, a 13% increase on 2007. Local councils providing disposable bags for collection had a marginally higher average performance rate for volume per household, but household participation rates were higher for councils providing wheelie bins. A total of 321 UK local authorities now provide kerbside recycling facilities, up from 304 in 2007and representing some 70% of all households.
Commenting on the survey, James Crick, business development director at Nampak Plastic Europe (Newport Pagnell / UK; www.eu.nampak.com) said local authorities must continue to encourage residents to recycle and that the reprocessing sector will require additional investments to increase capacity. Referring to the recycling of HDPE milk bottles, which increased by 9% in 2008 compared to the preceding year and accounted for 57% of all HDPE milk bottles used, he said: “It is imperative that the upward trend in HDPE milk bottle recycling continues in order for the dairy industry to reach its packaging goals.” The industry’s target is to make half of all milk packaging from recycled materials by 2020.
e-Service:
UK Household Plastics Packaging Collection Survey as a PDF document (951 KB)
14.10.2009 Plasteurope.com [214511]
Published on 14.10.2009