Call for curb on waste plastic export dependency

We've established the infrastructure and the know-how in Britain to be able to deal with our own waste

 
Chris Dow, Closed Loop Recycling

Chris Dow, managing director of London-based Closed Loop Recycling, has written to the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government voicing concerns that the future of the “infant” UK plastics recycling sector could be jeopardised by a reliance on overseas markets.

And, Mr Dow has also called on ministers to review the existing packaging waste recovery note (PRN) system in order to foster greater support for the domestic reprocessing market.

Mr Dow's comments come one week after members of the plastics recycling sector criticised the current PRN system, which has seen the value of plastic PRNs drop to between £3 and £4 per tonne (see letsrecycle.com story).

In his letter, Mr Dow claimed that reliance on the export market meant that ‘green' jobs were being lost in the UK.

He said: “Shipping what is a valuable resource for our industry to other countries is a third world practice. Not only is this an environmental risk, it is completely nonsensical in economic terms as it means that a growing UK industry is not being supported and instead green – or not so green – jobs are being created overseas instead of here in the UK.”

The coalition government has yet to make any specific declarations about its plans for the plastics recycling sector. Former Secretary of State for environment, Hilary Benn, met with representatives last month to discuss mounting issues in the sector (see letsrecycle.com story).

Infrastructure

Closed Loop currently processes 35,000 tonnes of mixed plastic bottle waste each year at its Dagenham plant and has plans for another facility at Deeside in North Wales which is set to open in 2011.

The existing plant and proposed facility are two examples of what Mr Dow deems an “established” UK plastics recycling infrastructure.

“We've established the infrastructure and the know-how in Britain to be able to deal with our own waste, consumers are recycling more, and increasing numbers of packaging companies, retailers and big name brands are choosing to use UK-sourced recyclate in their packaging,” he said.

“What we need now is a review of schemes such as the PRN system, to allow the industry to develop further to the benefit of the whole economy.”