BOTTLE RECYCLING
Plastics recycler ECO Plastics complains that quality of plastic waste in the UK has deteriorated / Financial loss for local authorities
Europe’s leading mixed plastic bottle recycler ECO Plastics (Hemswell, Lincolnshire / UK; www.ecoplasticsltd.com) says the quality of material it is collecting for recycling has deteriorated in quality over the last two to three years. In 2008, a typical bale of collected plastics arriving at its site contained 95% plastic bottles. Today the figure stands at 80%, or lower. This means that local authorities are receiving GBP 40 (EUR 46) less for every tonne of plastic they collect, which could mean annual losses in excess of GBP 10m (EUR 11.5m) when considering the 260,000 t of material collected last year. And the losses could even increase, as the volumes being collected each year are steadily higher. In addition, says ECO Plastics, local councils could face a GBP 20m (EUR 23m) cost for landfill if the poorest-quality materials collected are not suitable for recycling.
Plastic bottles are by far the most valuable, highest quality plastic waste out there, says ECO Plastics managing director Jonathan Short. He says there has been a significant drop in the bottle content of his group´s baled raw material, adding: “Local authorities are missing out on easy money.” London, for example, is estimated to have saved GBP 30m (EUR 34.5m) last year through its recycling efforts. But, despite UK recycling volumes increasing, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (London / UK; www.defra.gov.uk) recently revealed a 40% increase in the amount of recycled material sent to landfill in the past three years.
One of Short’s major concerns is that non-recyclable material is being put out for collection at the expense of plastic bottles. He cites black plastic trays as the biggest offender, adding that they were no real factor in his company’s recyclate three years ago, when an average bale contained only about 8% non-recyclable plastic. He believes better and consistent messaging is required and that there should be no rush to embrace mixed plastics collections. Rather, he stresses, there is a greater need to ensure that all plastic bottles in the UK are saved from landfill.
Plastic bottles are by far the most valuable, highest quality plastic waste out there, says ECO Plastics managing director Jonathan Short. He says there has been a significant drop in the bottle content of his group´s baled raw material, adding: “Local authorities are missing out on easy money.” London, for example, is estimated to have saved GBP 30m (EUR 34.5m) last year through its recycling efforts. But, despite UK recycling volumes increasing, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (London / UK; www.defra.gov.uk) recently revealed a 40% increase in the amount of recycled material sent to landfill in the past three years.
One of Short’s major concerns is that non-recyclable material is being put out for collection at the expense of plastic bottles. He cites black plastic trays as the biggest offender, adding that they were no real factor in his company’s recyclate three years ago, when an average bale contained only about 8% non-recyclable plastic. He believes better and consistent messaging is required and that there should be no rush to embrace mixed plastics collections. Rather, he stresses, there is a greater need to ensure that all plastic bottles in the UK are saved from landfill.
09.08.2011 Plasteurope.com [220002-0]
Published on 09.08.2011