A simpler approach to recycling in the UK is needed to prevent a declining global market for its materials.
That’s according to the ‘Quality First’ campaign launched by the Recycling Association, which also called for local authorities to be “compelled to introduce consistent collection systems”.
The latest campaign, the third since the ‘Quality First’ initiative was launched by the Association in 2016, explained that import restrictions across the globe has led to a need for increased quality to prevent material which previously went abroad be landfilled or incinerated.
Simon Ellin, chief executive of the Recycling Association, called for increased material quality to meet market demands
Commenting on the campaign, Simon Ellin, the Association’s CEO, explained that here has never been so much scrutiny on material quality, and it will only increase.
“Never before has the quality of recycled materials, processes and infrastructure been so heavily scrutinised – at home and abroad, by industry and the general public,” he explained.
Mr Ellin added: “Speaking up early has helped us to throw the spotlight on two key factors that have long gone unheard or unrecognised: the critical impact of packaging design on recycling; and the ability that UK recyclers have to meet global quality standards.”
Objectives
The report however did outline that premiums have been paid for the best quality material and the companies that have been able to provide it have benefitted from record prices paid for the likes of OCC to China.
However, it added that with China reportedly preparing to ban all solid waste imports within three years, the industry needs to adapt by introducing a number of measures to increase quality.
This includes retailers sticking to an approved list of packaging materials for their products, a transformation of the system to see exported materials prepared for recycling in the UK, government support with investment into UK infrastructure and increased producer responsibility to fund the improvements.
Local authority
When discussing the issue of standardisation of local authority collections, the report said that in an ideal world the situation would be that “every local authority uses the same amount and same colour of bins”, with exceptions only when local circumstances demand it.
The report said that as markets have changed, recycling has to be easier for the public but not at the expense of quality.
RECOUP
In its annual survey, RECOUP last week said that local authorities continue to perform with collections, explaining that “there is greater consistency in materials collected for recycling from kerbside schemes that is perceived”.
This was backed up by statistics which showed just four local authorities in the UK do not provide a kerbside recycling collection service that includes plastic bottles, all of them aim to have a service in place by 2019. Also, the statistics say that nearly 80% of Local Authorities collect plastic pots, tubs and trays as part of their kerbside collection service.
However, the survey did show that the quality of these materials is “increasingly becoming a concern” (see letsrecycle.com story)
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
