Paper processors query “tough” packaging target

I would question whether 90% is actually obtainable simply because of the contamination factor

 
David Symmers, chief executive, The Recycling Association

Speaking to letsrecycle.com, David Symmers, chief executive of the Recycling Association, claimed that the plans outlined by Defra under its consultation launched last week (March 4) on revisions to UK packaging targets for 2011 to 2020 would be “really, really tough”.

The consultation outlines plans to revise the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007, which include proposals for over 70% of packaging waste to be recycled by 2020 (see letsrecycle.com story).

In the wake of the launch, key figures in the packaging recycling sector have been quick to question the steep increase in some material recycling rates meted out by Defra under the consultation (see letsrecycle.com story).

On a material-specific basis, concerns raised over paper targets by the Recycling Association – which was formerly known as Independent Waste Paper Processors Association – echo those voiced by representatives of both the plastics (see letsrecycle.com story) and aluminium recycling sectors, who heavily critical of the proposed steep increase in recycling rates for their respective materials.

Mr Symmers claimed that a lot of work towards achieving the proposed 90% goal by 2020 – and even the 86.2% desired recycling rate by the same date – would be dependent on drawing “more and more” material from the domestic market.

He said: “The material we are talking about, a huge amount of it ends up in the household, so it is going to go into mixed and a lot of councils have this going into composting and that wouldn't count and then we have stuff going to energy-from-waste.

“We only need a few more councils doing this and then we have got no chance of 90% rate. Food wrappers and boxes are not acceptable for recycling, anything that has had food contact cannot be accepted for recycling anyway. So, how the hell are we going to hit 90%? I don't know.”

In addition, Mr Symmers also explained that as the sector attempts to reach these targets then the available avenues for it to gain more material will get “smaller and smaller” and make it “very much harder to collect it”.

“I would question whether 90% is actually obtainable simply because of the contamination factor. Once we get over 75% for any recycling rate – and that's not just paper, that is any type of packaging material – it starts getting really, really tough,” he added.

Proposed and desired packaging recycling targets for paper, 2011-2020