Estimates which form the basis for the UKs packaging recycling targets for plastic are inaccurate, a report commissioned by the British Plastic Federations Recycling Group (BPFRG) has claimed.
The report, which was produced by Phil Conran of waste consultancy 360 Environmental Ltd is based on analysis of data submitted by packaging producers to the National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD).
It was drawn up in response to a request from the Advisory Committee on Packaging to corroborate recycling rates.
As a result of the findings of the report, BPF has called for future packaging recycling obligations to be brought in line with the figures.It also believes that accurate data would help keep the cost of compliance down for obligated businesses. Packaging recovery notes (PRNs) for plastic reached a high of around 70 in 2013.
According to the BPF, Defra has calculated that there was around 2.6 million tonnes of plastics packaging placed on the market in 2013.
The figure, which was put forward in the departments recovery and recycling target consultation for 2013-2017 is based on estimates of the amount of packaging placed on the market in 2005, and has been altered to reflect market trends over the amount of packaging being produced.
BPF claims that this means that the data on which the current targets are based has overstated the amount of packaging placed on the market by around 300-400 thousand tonnes per annum.
Targets
‘It is disappointing that the UKs plastic recycling performance has been understated. It is crucial that the actual baseline from which targets are calculated are accurate so that compliance costs are not exaggerated.’
Roger Baynham, BPF
This means that progress towards the business targets for recycling plastic packaging, set at 37% for 2013, is actually greater than projected by Defra. The target is due to rise 5% per year up to 2017.
Commenting on the findings, Roger Baynham, chairman of the BPFRG, said: It is disappointing that the UKs plastic recycling performance has been understated. It is crucial that the actual baseline from which targets are calculated are accurate so that compliance costs are not exaggerated.
Meanwhile, the report states that NPWD data shows that the tonnage of packaging placed onto the market during 2006 and 2012 has remained broadly flat. It concludes that Defras projected growth rate of packaging placed onto the market of 2.5% growth rate is overstated.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com, Mr Conran said it was down to Defra whether it decided to alter the plastic packaging recycling obligation in response to the findings, but clarified the point of the report was to set a baseline that was not based on arbitrary figures.
Tonnage
In his analysis of the data, Mr Conran said this figure was derived from input from plastics sector trade association representatives to reach a position that was broadly in line with the tonnage at that time.
He wrote: Top down calculation of packaging data for any material is notoriously difficult and as has been indicated with glass, would seem no more accurate than a bottom up calculation using reported data.
There can be no disputing that data submitted under a legal accuracy requirement from a sample of over two and a half thousand of the UKs largest businesses must provide a more accurate basis for trend and calculation than arbitrary growth predictions.
A reasonable level of Placed on the Market tonnage for 2011 can be demonstrated to be in the region of 2.1 2.2 million tonnes.
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