Kerbside sort campaign applauds export reports

The campaigners, who want to see recyclable materials sorted at the kerbside rather than in MRFs, said of the three WRAP reports on the export of paper, plastic and glass (see letsrecycle.com story) that they “all reached the same conclusion”, that “quality is an essential factor in sustainable long-term markets”.

Presentations from Chinese paper importers at WRAP's exports seminar last week had also discounted the “age old myth” that export markets would always be available for poorer quality material, the campaigners said.

Chris White of campaign funders Paperchain said: “UK recyclate consumers certainly need high quality material, especially if further investment in plant is to be justified. To hear first hand that Chinese export markets have the same quality needs as the UK reprocessors – and in some cases their specifications are higher than the UK – should explode the age old myth that the Far East will take it no matter what the quality.

“Proper recycling is needed to achieve proper markets,” Mr White added.

The community sector, which is supporting the Campaign for Real Recycling along with parts of the paper, aluminium and glass reprocessing sectors, said that following the publication of the WRAP reports, “Defra and WRAP should advise local authorities and other collection agencies appropriately”.

Weight

Mal Williams of the Welsh Community Recycling Network, Cylch, said: “If quality is going to be a crunch issue for export as well as domestic consumption, what excuse can there now be for not collecting materials with end quality the top consideration? Indeed we believe this adds weight to the argument for materials to be collected separately at the kerbside, wherever possible, keeping them clean from the householder onwards.”

Mr Williams added that the campaigners would welcome the opportunity to work with WRAP on its proposed centre for exports expertise.

Andy Moore of the Community Recycling Network UK, who is co-ordinating the Campaign for Real Recycling, said it was “heartening” to hear at the WRAP seminar that the Environment Agency would be carrying out more work to check quality outputs at MRFs.

“However,” he said, “the resource implications of this are clearly considerable. Mr Bradshaw has indicated that the Agency can expect increased funding next year for this work. We call for a proper assessment of the additional capacity required and proportionate consideration to the resources allocated.”