RECYCLING
UK plastics recycling exceeds 500,000 t / BPF survey
The British Plastics Federation's (BPF, London / UK; www.bpf.co.uk) Recycling Group (BPFRG, www.bpf.co.uk/recycling/Default.aspx) says its members recycled a record 517,000 t of plastics in 2011. PE was the most recycled plastic, representing 53% by tonnage, followed by PET (22%) and PP (17%), according to the group’s annual survey.
About 42% of the plastics recycled were melt processed, while 43% were "size reduced", defined as shredded, granulated or milled down to a smaller particle size. The remainder were unprocessed, according to the survey, which was completed by about 87% BPFRG’s membership by turnover. The group had 40 members with a combined plastics-related turnover of GBP 305m (EUR 356m) in 2011.
“The BPFRG continues to see strong growth in its membership and this survey reinforces our position at the forefront of the UK plastics recycling industry,” says BPFRG chairman Roger Baynham. “However, the increased packaging recycling targets set by the government are challenging and will only be achieved by creating a credible route map which must address the UK’s over-reliance on export markets for its plastics waste.”
The BPFRG is calling for a reform of the government’s PRN / PERN (packaging waste recovery note / packaging waste export recovery note) revenues system, which it claims incentivises exports at the expense of local recycling. The proposed reform, says Baynham, would re-balance the system so that UK reprocessors become fairly incentivised and packaging manufacturers, brand owners and retailers become more engaged in the process.
e-Service:
BPF Recycling Group Annual Return Report as a PDF document
About 42% of the plastics recycled were melt processed, while 43% were "size reduced", defined as shredded, granulated or milled down to a smaller particle size. The remainder were unprocessed, according to the survey, which was completed by about 87% BPFRG’s membership by turnover. The group had 40 members with a combined plastics-related turnover of GBP 305m (EUR 356m) in 2011.
“The BPFRG continues to see strong growth in its membership and this survey reinforces our position at the forefront of the UK plastics recycling industry,” says BPFRG chairman Roger Baynham. “However, the increased packaging recycling targets set by the government are challenging and will only be achieved by creating a credible route map which must address the UK’s over-reliance on export markets for its plastics waste.”
The BPFRG is calling for a reform of the government’s PRN / PERN (packaging waste recovery note / packaging waste export recovery note) revenues system, which it claims incentivises exports at the expense of local recycling. The proposed reform, says Baynham, would re-balance the system so that UK reprocessors become fairly incentivised and packaging manufacturers, brand owners and retailers become more engaged in the process.
e-Service:
BPF Recycling Group Annual Return Report as a PDF document
01.02.2013 Plasteurope.com [224460-0]
Published on 01.02.2013