Cullet recycling rises by 14% in 2000

With data also being assessed by the Department of the Environment, Transport
and the Regions to measure performance against packaging waste regulations, the glass
industry says it is hopeful that the final figure could even be slightly higher.

Already this year prices for cullet have moved up as demand has increased and
there are strong hopes within the glass industry that even more material could be collected in
2001, especially as compliance scheme Valpak is now organising collections itself. On the
downside, installation of extra bottle banks remains difficult with new sites hard to find, clear
jars are not being returned in sufficient volumes and there is likely to be a greater emphasis
on expanding collections from pubs and clubs rather than households.

Looking at the results for 2000, John Cobring of United Glass and chairman of the
British Glass Public Affairs Committee, said: “The glass industry has worked hard to support
further growth in glass recycling. The increase in PRN revenue to 3.1 million has
undoubtedly resulted from the fact that the overall targets for recovery and recycling were
raised again for last year.

PRN income in 2000 increased to 3.1 million from 2.6 million in 1999. This is the
money raised from selling packaging waste recovery notes, to certify that tonnages of glass
have been recycled, to either packaging compliance schemes or individual obligated
businesses.

British Glass says that 73% of the money went on supporting the glass collection
systems “by maintaining price and investing in bottle banks. A further 15% of the revenue
was used to improve cullet handling capabilities within the manufacturers’ plants. In addition,
some 120,000 was spent in setting up a new website and developing a CD-ROM for a new
children’s education programme promoting glass recycling.

Mr Cobring did not comment on the growing diversion of cullet into aggregate
making, but emphasised the role of cullet in glass packaging (bottles and jars). He said:
“Glass packaging can be recycled again and again without loss in quality. New glass
containers made with high levels of recycled glass are as pure as ones made solely from
virgin raw materials.”