Recycled paper use falls in UK

The Confederation of Paper Industries reported that the use of recovered paper in the UK has fallen by 118,000 tonnes (2.6%).

” Should any issues arise with overseas demand, the UK will be among the first to suffer, because of the low domestic reprocessing level. “
– Peter Seggie, CPI
Some 4.5 million tonnes of recovered paper was used in 2005, down from the 4.6 million tonnes used in 2004.

With collection rates for waste paper rising by 5.5%, the figures suggest a growing reliance on exports in sustaining the UK's paper recycling rates.

The figures came as part of a European-wide report on paper recycling, which revealed that Europe has met a voluntary recycling target set six years ago to recycle 56% of paper by 2005.

Below average
The UK was slightly below the European average for waste paper collections, collecting 62.4% compared to Europe's 62.6% rate.

Although almost three quarters of the paper made in the UK is now from recycled fibre, domestic industry recycled just 36.1% of the total paper waste stream during 2005. Almost half of waste paper that was collected in the UK was sent abroad for reprocessing.

Elsewhere in Europe, Germany recycled 71.3% of its own waste paper, Spain 62.5%, France 55% and Italy 47.6%.

CPI recovered paper sector manager Peter Seggie explained that this low domestic recycling rate was because over 50% of the paper used in the UK is imported. Even with UK-based paper companies using high levels of recycled paper, he said the UK therefore “continues to have one of the lowest domestic recycling rates in Europe, 36.1% against a European average of 54.6%”.

Mr Seggie said 2006 could see the amount of UK waste paper sent abroad for reprocessing surpassing the amount recycled domestically.

“Sustainable”
He commented: “This is sustainable as long as there are expanding overseas markets (as currently being experienced in China), but the increasing collection rates of European partners mean they will become strong competitors in the future.

“Should any issues arise with overseas demand, the UK will be among the first to suffer, because of the low domestic reprocessing level.

“Continued energy price pressures on domestic reprocessors may contribute to further mill closures and job losses, and inevitably increased reliance on export markets,” Mr Seggie said.