Huge rise in council mixed plastics collections

The amount of mixed plastic material – such as pots, tubs and trays – collected by local authorities has risen by almost 78% over the past 12 months, finalised data published by plastics recycling trade body Recoup has shown.

The figures released yesterday (December 6) offer a revised and definitive version of the UK Household Plastic Packaging Survey 2010, which was published in preliminary form in September 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story).

And, the survey indicates a marked increase in the amount of material collected in 2009 compared to 2008. Furthermore, it states that 98 councils now offer some form of mixed plastic collection, with 84 actively collecting the material at the kerbside.

The study shows that 6.5 million households now have access to recycling a wide range of plastics at the kerbside, with the Eastern England region collecting the greatest tonnage of material – with 6,503 tonnes collected in 2009.

In total, 40,363 tonnes of mixed plastic material was collected for recycling in 2009, which compares to 22,701 tonnes collected in 2008 – representing an increase of 77.8%. However, Recoup claimed that it is “reasonable to believe that the 40,363 tonnes figure reported for 2009 is understated”.

As part of the report, Recoup surveyed local authorities over what barriers had prevented them from introducing mixed plastic collection schemes and the main reasons emerged as a lack of UK end markets for the material, market instability and lack of space in collection vehicles.

Welcoming the figures, Barry Turner of the Plastics 2020 Challenge, said: “We welcome the fact that many councils are enabling their voters to participate in this local recycling revolution, which our research shows they have a great desire to do when it is made easy and simple.”

Mixed plastics

Recoup last month warned that the uptake in mixed plastic collections could potentially cost local authorities in the long-run if collection volumes increase at a faster rate than necessary treatment infrastructure is developed (see letsrecycle.com story).

And, in the foreword for the report, John Simmons, chief executive of Recoup, said: “Because of the lack of sorting infrastructure at most MRFs capable of handling and segregating the non-bottle plastic fraction a number of adverse impacts are occurring, including higher downtime and maintenance periods at MRFs to remove plastic film; PTTs not segregated and being baled with the plastic bottle fraction; plastics fraction sometimes being contaminated with paper and glass materials.

“As a result, risk assessments on potential cross contamination of material types should be undertaken before new material types are included for collection and the potential impacts both in terms of quality and material sale values are recognised and considered.”

The study indicated that the “over-riding majority” of mixed plastics were collected commingled with other plastics. Recoup claimed that an increase in the number of plastics recycling facilities (PRFs) operating in the UK had allowed this to happen.

Figures

Elsewhere in the figures it emerged that the total amount of plastic bottles collected for recycling rising from a forecasted 45% to 46% – or 263,000 tonnes – in the finalised data.

Commenting on the finalised figures, Marcel Arsand, projects manager at Recoup, said: “It is really exciting to be able to follow plastic packaging collection scheme progress over the years, especially when significant improvements are reported.

“Once again we have dedicated a lot of time and resource to gather the most accurate data as possible, which allowed us to confidently report key aspects related to plastic packaging collection. The report would not be possible without the responses received from individual local authorities.”

The report showed that 215,576 tonnes of plastic bottles were collected through kerbside schemes, which represents an increase of 46,610 tonnes – or 27% – on the 2008 figure. Recoup said the rise was due to an increase in the number of councils introducing plastics to their kerbside system over the course of 2008/09.

Developments

Looking ahead, Recoup claims that there is potentially for 271,000 tonnes of plastic bottles to be collected by 2012, with it possibly rising to as much as 350,000 tonnes if a yearly 10% increase in household coverage is achieved.

The organisation said: “A focus on increasing plastic bottle kerbside infrastructure and indicative performance per household will be essential to boosting existing recycling rates and achieve the step change desired.”

The UK Household Plastic Packaging Report is compiled annually by Recoup, with the 2010 edition sponsored by plastics recycling firm Nampak Plastics and recycling consultancy PPS Recovery Systems.