Government must capitalise on public support for a ‘national recycling standard’ for the collection and design of packaging, according to waste experts in the public and private sector.
Yesterday (July 16) the Packaging industry group INCPEN – the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment – and resources charity WRAP released the results of a survey canvassing more than 6,000 people over their views on packaging and food (see letsrecycle.com story).
The two groups suggested that this highlights public support for the collection of a consistent set of dry-recyclable materials at the kerbside, as well as improved product recycling labelling and greater standardisation of packaging. And, findings of the research have today been welcomed by figures from local authorities and the waste management sector.
Industry
Jakob Rindegren, recycling policy adviser at the Environmental Services Association (ESA), which represents the UK’s waste management sector, said the Association is supportive of proposals to make packaging easier to recycle but the correct legislation needs to be in place to support investment.
Jakob Rindegren, recycling policy adviser, ESA
“It is encouraging to see the INCPEN/WRAP survey showing clear public support for 100% recyclable packaging and an improved labelling system,” he explained.
Mr Rindegren added: “However, in order to achieve a significant uplift in the amount of packaging recycled, large scale investment in infrastructure is needed, much of which will come from ESA’s members if the right policies are in place.”
INCPEN and WRAP’s survey was carried out towards the end of 2018 and built on a similar study conducted in 2012.
It showed that while the cost of food remained the top priority, both food waste and how things are packaged saw some of the biggest increases, jumping by 7% and 12% respectively.
Robbie Staniforth, head of policy at Ecosurety, said it is important that any legislative changes on packaging do not create an increase food waste.
“These survey results clearly show that food packaging needs to be made reusable, recyclable or compostable, which is something we hope the government will factor into the way fees are modulated for producers come 2023.”
“It is pleasing to see that when it comes to citizens’ concerns about food, waste is second only to pricing,” he explained.
Mr Staniforth added: “It is important that we do not design a governance system for packaging producer responsibility in a silo without considering the effect on food waste.
“These survey results clearly show that food packaging needs to be made reusable, recyclable or compostable, which is something we hope the government will factor into the way fees are modulated for producers come 2023.”
Local authorities
From a local authority perspective, both the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) and the Local Government Association (LGA) supported the potential for a ‘recycling standard’ but urged greater investment and a carefully thought out plan.
Lee Marshall, chief executive of LARAC
Lee Marshall, LARAC’s chief executive, said the report gives “valuable insight” into thinking on food waste, but said changes are needed to packaging before rolling out consistent collection schemes.
“When you look at the detail in the survey it is clear that people want packaging to be recyclable, made from single polymers and clearly labelled,” he explained.
“Without changes to product design, sorting capacity, or end markets, then it is pointless having a consistent collection system for materials that cannot and will not be recycled.”
This was echoed by Cllr Martin Tett, environment spokesman for the Local Government Association, who called on manufacturers now to do more to make packaging recyclable and allow council to be free to decide how to deliver waste.
“Manufacturers need to up their game now and respond to the public’s call to action by using packaging that is fully and easily recyclable, and pay the full cost of recycling packaging.”
“Manufacturers need to up their game now and respond to the public’s call to action by using packaging that is fully and easily recyclable, and pay the full cost of recycling packaging,” he said.
Cllr Tett added: “Councils are doing all they can to improve recycling rates, but further improvement on current levels needs significant extra funding so councils can cover new materials proposed in the Government’s waste strategy.
“Councils should be free to decide how to deliver their waste services locally, as various factors determine waste collection methods, such as property type and rurality.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
