The 2012 “UK Household Plastics Collection Survey”, published by plastics waste management and recycling specialist Recoup (Peterborough / UK; www.recoup.org) is now available online. The survey contacts all UK local authorities to provide an in-depth review of the infrastructure for the collection of household plastics for recycling in the UK.

The research reveals that household recycling has become the principal contributor towards achieving plastics packaging recycling targets, making up almost 70% of the 610,000 t total plastics packaging recycled. Over 425,000 t of rigid household plastics is collected in the UK for recycling, an overall collection rate of 36% and over 300,000 t of plastic bottles – a recycling rate of 52% – were collected in 2012, the first time the rate has passed the 50% barrier.

Collection schemes for plastic films are also being introduced, with 70 local authorities (17%) offering a collection service. It is estimated that the 48% of plastic bottles not collected for Recycling, cost over GBP 24m (EUR 28m) to dispose of and that the value these plastic bottles would attract from reprocessors is an estimated GBP 63.7m.

Kerbside collection schemes are now the predominant method for the collection of plastics packaging in the UK, with bring schemes used in some areas alongside kerbside schemes to form part of the recyclables collection infrastructure that local authorities offer. The survey reports that 426,591 t of plastics packaging were collected for recycling in 2011, with 371,098 t (87%) collected through kerbside schemes and 55,493 t (13%) through 'bring' schemes.