Commissioner keeps out of commingled debate

Simon Weston, managing director of Smurfit Kappa Recycling, hailed the Commissioners words as great news for UK recycling and Andy Moore, coordinator of the Campaign, described the Commissioners support as unambiguous.

But, contrary to the views expressed this week by Mr Weston and Mr Moore, the European Commissioner for the Environment has told letsrecycle.com that his words were just general support for paper recycling and should not be seen as being of specific reference to the commingled argument in the UK.If DrPotonik was to directly support the Campaign, this could have significant consequences for recycling in the UK.

Paper Declaration

The New Year manouevre in the Campaigns ongoing battle to see the end of commingled collections has brought the European Commissioner into the debate and comes following the publication of a Declaration document by Europes paper industry late last year which pledged that Europes paper industry would reach 70% recycling by 2015.

Dr Potonik wrote a statement of support for the Declaration. However, buried within the detail of the document was a paragraph calling for the ending of commingled recycling the Campaign considers that by supporting the Declaration, MrPotonik is also supporting the anti-commingling argument contained in that paragraph.

Until now the European Commission had not been brought directly into the UK debate whichhas seenthe Campaign for Real Recycling (lead by the community sector and some material reprocessors) challenging the way the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Government have interpreted part of the revised Waste Framework Directive (rFWD).

Fraud

The debate stems primarily from the Campaigns opposition to material recycling facilities and belief that the better option is kerbside sorting; in the past Campaign chair Mal Williams has spoken of the fraud involved in the recycling rates given by MRF users (see Blog).

The rWFD debate centres on the interpretation by the UK government and Welsh government of the term separate collection of recyclables and that collection of materials in a commingled way for sorting at a materials recycling facility is acceptable. But the Campaign considers that separate should mean materials are collected for separate sorting at the kerbside rather than through MRFs and that the UK interpretation is wrong.

Technical changes

In December 2011 a court action in Cardiff over the interpretation was put on hold after Defra said it would make technical changes to the legislation to make it clear that recycling processes should be chosen by local authorities. (see letsrecycle.com story)

“If there was ever any doubt as to what the EU rWFD meant by separate collections of paper, glass, metals and plastics this announcement by the EU Environment Commissioner himself has removed it.”

Simon Weston, managing director, Smurfit Kappa Recycling

In his statement published on page one of the Declaration, Dr Potonik stated: The Declaration is fully in in line with the European objective to build a circular economy aiming at using waste as resource. I am therefore happy to support the approach taken by the sector and to wish a long and successful life to this Declaration.

The Campaign has taken DrPotonik’s words as signifying support for the ending of commingled collections because within the Declaration document there are some sentences which call for the ending of commingled collections and moving to separate materials.

‘In general’

DrPotonik’s office told letsrecycle.com that while he clearly supports the Declaration in general, the Commission cannot prejudge the specific issues concerning the interpretation of the Directive which are pending before UK Courts.

And, Dr Potonik’s office noted that the European Court of Justice is the only institution entitled to provide an authoritative interpretation of EU legislation.

The view from the Campaign, however, was clear in that it believesDr Potonik’s words in the Declaration do signify support for ending commingled recycling.

Unambiguous

Andy Moore, CRR coordinator, said: The Campaign welcomes this unambiguous support and endorsement for the end to co-mingled collections and calls on all key stakeholders in the UK recycling sector to embrace the opportunities provided by this clear policy signal from Europe.”

He added: “Separately collecting materials so that they may be recycled ‘closed loop’ or upcycled is a requirement of the rWFD and the Campaign will support the proper transposition of the rWFD in the four devolved administrations of the UK.

Separate

Simon Weston, managing director of Smurfit Kappa Recycling, said: If there was ever any doubt as to what the EU rWFD meant by separate collections of paper, glass, metals and plastics this announcement by the EU Environment Commissioner himself has removed it.”

Mr Weston continued: “This is great news for UK recycling and for the UK reprocessing industry across all materials. The resource recovery industry needs clarity so that future investment can be accurately and usefully targeted.