The option of collecting mixed glass, rather than separating different coloured bottles and jars, has caused some councils to re-think their approach to kerbside collections as traditionally glass has not been collected with other materials. A number of local authorities are now looking at mixed glass schemes because they can save on sorting costs and because glass is a heavier material than other materials, the tonnages collected will help the councils to reach government targets.
The market is being driven in part by compliance scheme Valpak which is promoting collection of cullet for use by RMC in the aggregate sector in order to receive the PRNs (packaging waste recovery notes).
Durk Reyner, of Welwyn and Hatfield District Council and executive member of the recycling officers group LARAC, said: “Prices are stable and there is more interest in the market which is always a good sign. This is being driven by the PRN requirement and because Valpak schemes are mopping up the glass.”
Paul Deakin, vice chairman of LARAC and recycling officer for North Dorset Council, said: “A large market will develop in aggregate, there are also niche markets developing for glass fibre and for decorative glass, and all these developments will use considerably more amounts of glass.”
Hunting
He added: “Only half a dozen or so local authorities collect glass at the kerbside – but a lot more will be moving into that area. We are running around hunting weight and as a council we are looking to introduce a kerbside collection of glass by the end of the year.”
Councils have seen volatility in the glass market in terms of price in recent years. One question under discussion within local authorities, said one council officer, is whether it is better to go for the Valpak offered price of about 8-10 a tonne or take higher prices from recyclers which could change in the future.
Mr Reyner said: “If we had known that Valpak was offering 8-10 for a mixed collection we would have put one in because glass is heavy. We are looking at introducing a mixed collection in the future because it is cheaper as you can have less members of staff and you can overcome some health and safety issues. Although we will keep separate banks, mixed glass is the way to go with a kerbside collection.”
Inner London
Inner London glass recycling levels have been on the low side in several boroughs and these are among councils targeted by Valpak. Christina Barros, recycling officer for the London Borough of Southwark, said that when the council expands its kerbside collection at the end of summer it is thinking of introducing a mixed glass collection. “We haven't decided whether to offer a mixed or separate collection of glass, but a mixed collection is a possibility,” she confirmed.
There is much debate within the glass sector as to whether Valpak is actually generating the tonnages it wants and whether or not it is simply chasing existing tonnage. Valpak has said that over 100 local authorities have agreed to install more glass recycling banks or to increase kerbside collections because of the guaranteed aggregate markets.
Emma Stewart, communciations officer at Valpak, said: “We appreciate that for some in the glass container industry the recycle-more-glass project causes concern, for whilst it makes use of the surplus cullet from green glass imports it also opens up the prospect of mixed colour collection which, some feel, could threaten the long established colour separated collection.”
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