Commission clarifies view on commingling

The comments come in discussions between the spokesman for European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik and letsrecycle.com.

The Commission has indicated to letsrecycle.com that glass should preferably be collected separately from paper. And, it has also revealed that it is set to offer guidance by outlining the best practice on separate collections from across the continent, with a study on recycling collections in Europe to be concluded in late 2015.

The spokesman said: “The study that we are launching will allow the Commission to have a comprehensive overview of the situation across the EU, but it is clear that Member States that are achieving high recycling rates are doing so by using separate collection, and restricting commingled collection to compatible dry waste.”

From January 2015, when the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations come into effect, it will be a legal requirement for paper, plastic, metal and glass to be collected separately, apart from where TEEP* and necessity measures are invoked .

Commingling

Local authorities in the UK have been thrown into turmoil by the Regulations, with many reviewing their collection arrangements ahead of the January deadline, and some fearing that they may face costly legal action if they do not correctly apply the rules.

For many councils the debate centres on whether they can legally continue to collect the four material streams commingled in a single container.

This affects a large proportion of waste collection authorities with around 45% carrying out a fully commingled collection service in 2012/13, according to figures presented by waste consultancy Eunomia at last week’s LARAC conference.

Some experts have argued that a four-stream system for dry recycling will largely be the only compatible collection system after January 2015. Councils were given fresh warning last week of the willingness of campaign group UK Recyclate to take to court councils it believes are not meeting their legal obligations.

Challenge

UK Recyclate director Andy Moore has told local authorities that he believes that exceptions to separate collections are likely to be on a ‘very local level’ only (see letsrecycle.com story).

However, a European Commission spokesman has confirmed to letsrecycle.com that the requirements for separate collection are intended to cover ‘incompatible’ waste streams such as dry or wet waste, or glass and paper.

This echoes comments made by Commissioner Potocnik, who, speaking to letsrecycle.com in the summer, highlighted the need for the separation of dry recycling from biowaste (see letsrecycle.com story).

Speaking last week to letsrecycle.com, the Commissioner’s spokesman told letsrecycle.com: “The rationale behind separate collection is that it achieves the highest possible yield for recycling by separating incompatible waste streams, such as glass and paper, or dry and wet waste. In a number of areas in the UK, all waste is commingled, and this practice may not allow the achievement of this objective.

Best practice

The spokesman confirmed that a study on how recycling collections are carried out is to be undertaken by the Commission, with the results likely to give a ‘comprehensive’ overview of how collections are being carried out across Europe.

“The Commission is launching a study on how separate collection is being implemented in Europe to identify best practices. Results are expected for late 2015.

The comments from the Commission may help to offer some clarity to councils over the application of the law, with no direct guidance coming for councils in England. The Welsh Government is currently in the process of finalising its guidance over the interpretation of the law, which was launched for consultation in April (see letsrecycle.com story).

*The Regulations bring the terms of the EU’s revised Waste Framework Directive into UK law. The Directive states that separate collections are required unless it is not technically, economically or environmentally practicable (TEEP) to do so, or if they are not necessary to encourage high quality recycling.