The waste sector is not anticipating a “return to normal” for waste volumes and composition until 2023, according to Stuart Hayward-Higham, the technical development director at Suez.
Stuart Hayward-Higham speaking at the MRF conference on ‘lessons learnt during the covid-19 pandemic’
Speaking at the MRF conference today, 8 October, Mr Hayward-Higham assessed the ‘lessons learnt during the covid-19 pandemic’ and explained what material recycling facilities (MRF) should anticipate in the new normal.
Mr Hayward-Higham added that the impact of covid-19 cannot be looked at “in isolation” and the sector must also consider other impacts moving forward such as Brexit and the deposit return scheme (DRS).
Composition
Assessing composition and how it has changed during the pandemic, Mr Hayward-Higham reported that half of responding local authorities had seen dry recycling waste volumes in April rise by at least 30% . And, a further 30-40% of other local authorities started to see a smaller increase.
Mr Hayward-Higham described there to be a “gradual decline in excessive volumes” through to September, which continued to rise as restrictions were lifted.
However only 20% of local authorities reported to be back to near pre-covid levels, with materials such as Wood and WEEE particularly hit.
He explained that by mid-May, there was a peak in plastics composition while tins and cans went back to normal and glass began to pick up”.
“We started to see behaviour changes as well, as people started to enjoy themselves at home with the occasional beer beverage and thus an increase in glass bottles,” he explained.
He added: “In May and the beginning of June, HWRCs were reopening so bulky waste began to appear more regularly and glass was increasing. Recycling levels were still up and other materials were also returning to normal. So quite a lot of movement, which was quite a challenge for us.”
Unsettled
“The only thing I can promise is the new normal is just continual change”
Looking forward, he explained that he thinks the waste sector will be “unsettled” for at least another year, and it could be longer for those which serve certain sectors, such as hospitality.
He said issues which have arisen throughout the year have thrown into doubt what ‘normal’ is, which he says could impact things such as target setting for the new year, which is based on activity in the previous year.
“This hasn’t been a normal year, in which case it will be difficult to take 2020 data and transform it to compare to 2021,” he explained.
Mr Hayward-Higham added: “It is difficult to know what the new normal is. We think that municipal will be higher than business, which could lead to increased recycling as we think people recycle better at home, as the way we live is different than when in the office. The only thing I can promise is the new normal is just continual change, and we are not anticipating a ‘return to normal’, pre-Covid, level of waste until 2023′”.
The MRF Conference, organised by letsrecycle.com, took place online on 08 October 2020.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
