Householders wishes have place in TEEP debate

Householders preference for a kerbside recycling scheme should be considered when deciding whether a collection system meets TEEP requirements, Wales waste management firms have argued.

The comments from the Welsh Environmental Services Association (WESA) came in response to a call for evidence on draft guidance from the Welsh Government on separate collections, recycling quality and TEEP (see letsrecycle.com story).

Launched for consultation in April the guidance sets out the conditions the Welsh Government believes local authorities or private waste contractors should meet to collect paper, metal, plastic and glass for recycling in order to comply with the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations.

The regulations state that separate collections of at least those four materials are required from January 2015 if technically, environmentally and economically practicable (TEEP) and appropriate to meet the necessary quality standards for the relevant recycling sectors.

WESA welcomed the publication of official guidance on the issue, claiming that a plethora of unofficial guidance could risk muddying the waters for those seeking to comply with the regulations.

Practicability

And in its response, the organisation countered comments made by the Welsh Government that the test for practicability should not take into account householder or business preferences about collection methods.

In its draft guidance document, for which the consultation closed last week (July 21), the Welsh Government stated: The definition of practicability does not allow for householder or business preferences about collection methods.

However, WESA claims that preference for a recycling collection scheme is relevant as it has an influence on participation rates, which can in turn influence the quantity and quality of material which householders put out for recycling.

In its response, the organisation stated: If local residents or businesses do not support, or do not understand, the collection method which a local authority has put in place, then the quantity of material put out for recycling will be adversely affected, and the material is more likely to be put in the wrong bin, potentially affecting the quality.

Resource Association

Also responding to the consultation, reprocessing sector body the Resource Association sought to outline its view of what constitutes quality recycling as set out under the regulations.

It commented: The Resource Association defines quality recycling as material that can be collected and re-processed into the same or a similar product an integral element of the circular economy. However, in order to achieve this, raw material suppliers need to meet the Quality Specifications given here.

The Association goes on to highlight its recently published Recycling Quality Information Point (ReQIP) tool which aims to provide information about the quality of recyclable materials required by reprocessing firms (see letsrecycle.com story).

Discussion

And, while the Association states that the tool, which is endorsed by a significant element of the UK reprocessing industry, should not substitute direct discussions with individual companies about their own requirements, it says it can help to give collectors of waste an idea of the necessary quality required.

The Association adds: Many local authorities have fairly limited direct contact with the reprocessing sector as a result of contracting out collection and sorting services to other companies.

We hope that this information will prove useful to local authorities in refreshing interest in the impact that collection and sorting of recyclate has at the point of the end user, and reminding everybody involved that recycling does not take place until material is properly reprocessed by an end user collection is an important intermediary in this process.