They report that UK reprocessors have “made it clear” that recovered paper from commingled sources is “undesirable.” The UK currently accounts for 45% of collected recovered paper from the UK. They explain that China, which accounts for 29% of this market, is also “becoming increasingly sensitive to the quality issue.”
Despite this, overall collection rates were up. The CPI said “record volumes” of used paper and board were collected with the figure rising by 602,000 tonnes in 2007, which means the total amount collected headed towards nearly nine million tonnes. In 2006, eight million tonnes were collected.
The CPI said: “After a muted performance in 2006, the growth in collections seen in 2003 and 2004 returned. Some of the increase was attributable to investments made by Local Authorities, although figures suggest most of the growth was in paper grades such as packaging, which are less prevalent in the domestic waste stream.”
They also suggest that there have only been small gains in waste paper recovery, reporting that “HM Revenue and Customs Export figures by grade suggest there is evidence that there are, in fact, only marginal gains in the recovery levels of waste papers such as old newspapers, magazines, direct mail and office type papers”.
However, they are positive about the recovery and recycling of paper used for packaging, stating that: “Global demand for recovered paper, particularly from China for packaging grades, has been dramatic, and it would appear recovery levels of packaging papers are now following global demand rather than responding to the legislative push that was more apparent in the earlier years of the UK's waste strategies.”
Results for recycled corrugated board used in the UK were also good. The CPI reports that 84% of corrugated board used is recycled and often composed of more that 76% recycled material, and in some cases as high as 100%. They said: “As a result of this high recycling rate, an area board the size of greater London avoids going to landfill every four months.”
CPI director-general Dr Martin Oldman predicted that national energy targets would affect the industry and expressed concerns about the renewable energy sector diverting biomass from the industry.
He said: “National ambitions regarding the achievement of energy use targets will have a considerable impact on UK manufacturing operations and that all sectors of the paper industry will be affected more of less directly.
“Concerns also began to surface regarding the possible diversion of biomass to energy provision and the possible affects on security of supply to the paper industry.”
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