‘Off the peg’ solution to 50% recycling

Local authorities have done a fantastic job in the past 15 years at raising household recycling rates from very low levels to the respectable position in which they are now in. Obviously, differing approaches between different administrations across the UK have led to some variations in performance – with Welsh authorities in particular enjoying additional support from the Welsh Government, enabling them to achieve much higher recycling levels. But, if the UK as a whole is to meet the 2020 household recycling targets, we will need English authorities to raise their rates beyond the mid-forties.

The huge step-change in recycling rates happened during a period when high prices for commodities on the back end of facilities, were married with a relatively strong funding position for local authority collections on the front end. But did this lead to a situation where too many authorities opted for a bespoke solution when local variation didn’t perhaps warrant the introduction of the multitude of systems that were subsequently launched?

The past 18 months have been particularly challenging times for recycling markets. Having experienced the biggest commodity boom in history, we are now facing a new market reality, where the prices of the past will not make the same contribution towards subsidising the costs of local authority collections as they were. And of course this has now happened, as authorities are faced with an ongoing squeeze on their budgets.

Funding

The current funding environment, for local government in particular, means that perhaps the recycling collections’ equivalent of a Savile Row suit is no longer appropriate for the situation we are now in. Might it be time instead to focus on more ‘off-the-peg’ solutions?

The first step towards off-the-peg recycling would come in the form standardisation of materials collected, both at the kerbside and at household waste recycling centres. Greater levels of standardisation could benefit the whole recycling supply chain, from householders and local authorities, right the way through to manufacturers and waste producers.

Clarity over what materials can be put in which bin across the country would greatly reduce householder confusion. National communications could be rationalised, with consistent and streamlined messages presented to consumers as to what they can and cannot recycle.

At the other end of the supply chain, manufacturers would benefit through improved consistency of secondary resources. This could, in turn, bring greater stability and certainty to companies, enabling them to invest in greater use of recycled materials in their packaging and products.

In between, greater standardisation could enable the waste and recycling industry to find greater efficiencies in the delivery of its services, which would benefit local authorities through cost savings. Further savings could also potentially be found through more streamlined procurements.

The benefits of greater standardisation of recycling services seem clear. The biggest barrier to its introduction is probably political resistance to change. But as the funding gap for Local Authority collections continues to grow during this Parliament, and 2020 recycling targets loom into view, the incentive to standardise approaches and find efficiencies can surely only grow.