Plastic bottle recycling increasing but more still to do

The UK Plastic Bottle Recycling Survey 2007 commissioned by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and carried out by Recoup, was a survey into local authority plastics recycling – the 13th such annual survey.

Published yesterday, it stated that of the UK's 471 local authorities, 92% offered some form of plastics collection facility and that 54% of households have kerbside collections. The breakdown per country for local authorities offering kerbside collections is:

• 54% in England
• 57% in Wales
• 41% in Scotland
• 91% in Northern Ireland

The survey says that the average quantity of plastic bottles collected from homes is 7.5 kilogrammes each year – an increase of 2 kgs on last year.

The highest performing kerbside schemes reported yields of 20 kgs on last year where the lowest generated less than 2 kgs. Quantities from plastic bottle banks average between 2kg and 5kg.

Around 77% of local authorities offer a plastic bottle bank service and about half offer both bank and kerbside collections.

The survey found that 25% of bottles in the household waste stream are now collected for recycling. In 2001, the figure was 3% and by 2009, it is expected to reach 28%.

Paul Davidson, Plastics Technology Manager at WRAP, said: “It is very encouraging to see the tremendous rate at which plastic bottle collection rates have grown over the last few years.

“However, three out of every four plastic bottles are still not being collected for recycling so there remains a need to focus on good practice and remove scheme inefficiencies to optimise current systems,” he added.

WRAP believes the reasons plastics recycling is increasing include pressure on local authorities to increase recycling and avoid landfill tax fines.

The reasons some local authorities do not offer a service include high costs and a focus on recycling heavier materials to meet targets.

The survey reported a strong UK and export market, and that 70% of UK-collected plastic bottles were sold abroad.

It also recognized local authorities concerns over bioplastics – derived from sources such as corn starch – with around 65% expressing worries that it would pose challenges for collection and sorting or contamination of either plastics or green waste.