Davies urges councils to heed TEEP guidance

Launching a consultation on the Welsh Governments draft guidance document on separate collections which was published today (April 28) the minister said that it is vital that it is made as simple as possible to encourage high quality recycling.

The regulations state that separate collections of at least metal, plastic, paper and glass are required if technically, environmentally and economically practicable (TEEP) and appropriate to meet the necessary quality standards for the relevant recycling sectors.

In its guidance document, the Welsh Government has set out the conditions it believes that councils and waste collection contractors must meet to fulfil their legal obligations.

Value

The Welsh Government has also argued that there is a business case for separate collections, as this reduces contamination and ensures that materials can be recycled to a higher standard, creating more valuable products and more opportunities for manufacturers to make use of the materials.

It has also stated that whilst the regulations set separate collection as the default position, they dont prohibit commingling if it results in a similar quantity of high-quality recyclates, to that achievable by separate collection, or if separate collection isnt TEEP.

Commenting on the guidance, minister for natural resources Alun Davies, said: I want it to be as simple as possible for everyone in Wales to recycle the four materials to a high quality, so we can continue to improve our recycling rates and continue to lead the way with the highest recycling rates in the UK.

Increasing the quantity and the quality of materials available for recycling will ensure that Welsh councils and businesses can get a better price for what they collect. It will help to grow Wales market for recycled materials which will pay more for quality resources, which can only benefit Welsh companies. This is why our overarching strategy, Towards Zero Waste, lays out a policy of separate collection for recyclable waste.

Its vital that Welsh councils and businesses are clear on their responsibilities so that they can plan effectively for next year.

Final statutory guidance will be made available once all consultation responses have been considered. The consultation will close on Monday July 21.