The collection rate for rigid plastic packaging from UK households rose slightly to 45% in 2015 from 44% in 2014, helped by increased recycling of pots, tubs and trays, according to a survey by plastics waste management and recycling specialist Recoup (Peterborough / UK; www.recoup.org). The collection rate for bottles was 57%, while the rate for pots, tubs and trays was 30%.

A total of 499,625 t of rigid plastics were collected for recycling, representing a 1.4% increase on 2014. The collection of plastic bottles rose by 0.8% to 340,160 t and the collection of plastic pots, tubs and trays rose by 2.8% to 159,465 t. The survey data was gathered from UK local authorities and waste management companies (for 2015 survey results, see Plasteurope.com of 14.10.2015).

Recoup warns that the growth in the recycling of rigid plastics is slowing, alongside a slowdown in the introduction of new collection services. “Recoup had hoped to report that more than half a million tonnes of plastic packaging was collected for recycling from UK households in 2015, but collection level increases have slowed,” said Steve Morgan, author of Recoup’s “UK Household Plastics Collection Survey” report. Most local authorities in the UK already provide a collection service for plastic bottles, and the number of new collection services for non-bottle material is also slowing, he said.

The quantity and quality of the material from the collection systems needs support and funding, and with ongoing budget restrictions this could be harder to achieve, says Recoup. “Tough questions continue to be asked as to whether local authorities can save more budget after several years of progressive cuts,” said Morgan. At the same time, it remains unclear whether a new EU circular economy package, announced in 2015, will be agreed and whether, following Brexit, the UK would adopt that package, he added.

e-Service:
Recoup's “UK Household Plastics Collection Survey 2016” as a PDF file