Plastics recyclers air concerns over 2017 targets

The concerns about the targets – set under the packaging waste regulations and which will mean more household plastic waste needs collecting – were raised by the plastics sector at its annual Parliamentary Reception last night.

But, the concerns were met with little sympathy from resource minister Lord de Mauley, who described them as aggressive.

David Eggleston, of Linpac, hit out at what he called arbitrary ever increasing targets and emphasised the need to tackle pots tubs and trays (PTT).

He said: PTT is an important category. There are a variety of packaging products which makes this sector complex, PET, polystyrene, polypropylene and PE used for yoghurt pots, fresh soupcontainers, ice cream and margarine tubs and meat trays. Recycling such a mix is very complicated because in order to get a useful rate of material, you have to separate. It will be difficult, but if we dont crack these problems we wont meet the targets set for 2017.

Mr Eggleston said that despite having a long recycling pedigree, he had never thought that recycling was a silver bullet solution. I do worry that the present policy focusing on higher targets could be financially costly and stifle innovation. Recycling of course popular with many but does restrict material change.

Innovation

Explaining that innovation can help products to do jobs better, Mr Eggleston said complex packaging solutions are often needed. Our latest tray innovation is a super lightweight tray with a monopolymer made from recycled PET bottles is crystal clear. It can be recycled as a PET bottle.

The emphasis, he said, should be on efficient, low carbon and sustainable solutions, rather than arbitrary ever increasing targets.

A harder line was taken by Barry Turner, chief executive of the Packaging and Films Association. He told the audience that countries in Europe are looking to plastics as a fuel and this should be considered too in the UK. He also attacked those who who banged on about plastic bags.

While noting that councils dont have plastics recycling targets themselves whereas industry does, Mr Turner also called for retailers to demand more recycled content. Our members expected to see increased demand for recycling content. In our survey we found that 71% saw no demand.

The concerns of the plastic sector were met a firm stance from resource minister Lord de Mauley although he did endorse the call for manufacturers to require recycled materials.

Lord de Mauley outlined the Waste Vision for England which he unveiled at the CIWM conference earlier this month. But, he offered no sympathy over meeting the targets, describing them as aggressive but pointed to the household plastic recycling communication initiative being developed by Recoup as something which could help with the collection of more material.

The plastics recycling will be helped, said the minister, by the governments placing of a floor under the landfill tax at 80.

And, commenting on the ongoing work over the PRN system in the UK, he said that part of the review of packaging will be looking at ways to ensure a level playing field for UK reprocessors.