Members of the BPF, the representative body for plastics recycling in the UK, travelled to the Netherlands to meet up with their Dutch counterpart Vereniging van Kunststof Recyclers (VKR) last week.
” The Dutch realise how important a healthy local recycling industry is. It is an attitude that would be welcome in the UK
“
– Mark Burstall, chairman of BPF
UK representative were encouraged by the infrastructure for recycled plastics. Mark Burstall, chairman of the BPFRC, said: “We were interested to hear that, although a lot of material is exported, the Dutch exporters make sure that local recyclers have enough raw materials to reprocess. They also sell at lower prices than they do for exports.”
Importers in China have been paying increased costs for plastic from the UK and the rest of Europe, which has been one of the main factors pushing plastic prices up.
Mr Burstall said of the Dutch plastics collectors approach: “It is a very refreshing attitude to have, the Dutch realise how important a healthy local recycling industry is. It is an attitude that would be welcome in the UK.”
He speculated this would ensure that should anything happen to the export market, by keeping the local reprocessors happy and in business, the Dutch exporters are ensuring that there is always a viable market in Holland.
Supply chain
The BPF combined its usual quarterly meeting with visits to two Dutch recycling plants, Broeckx Plastic Recycling and Timco Plastics, and an informal meeting with VKR.
Among the issues discussed supply chains were at the top of the agenda with the two individual organisations sharing ideas about how best to ensure that a supply chain works to the benefit of each company involved.
UK delegates also said the two plants had excellent sorting and granulation systems. At the Timco plant the company was also dealing with end-of-life vehicle and waste electrical and electronic equipment plastic.
He said: “It was good to see WEEE and ELV plastic being recycled because that is something that we are going to have to deal with in the near future.”
Subscribe for free