The Buckinghamshire-based company, which runs both commingled and source-separated collections and a number of materials recycling facilities (MRFs), questioned the hierarchy's assertion that source-separated represents the most sustainable and cost effective collection option for local authorities (see letsrecycle.com story).
And, to illustrate his argument against the hierarchy, and in favour of commingled collections, he drew on a number of pieces of evidence and reports.
In particular, he highlighted research published earlier this month by Milton Keynes' recycling firm and MRF operator Community Waste that found that carbon emissions from commingled recycling streams were 28% lower per tonne of material collected than for source-separated schemes (see letsrecycle.com story).
And, he also emphasised the success of Greenstar's commingled collections in increasing tonnages, both from its household recycling in Blackburn with Darwen borough council and from business and industry collections nationwide.
Mr Wakelin claimed that this, as well as the growing use of commingled collections by local authorities and WRAP's apparent support for the quality of paper and glass produced by MRFs (see letsrecycle.com story), all worked against the Campaign for Real Recycling's hierarchy.
“This rather blows a hole in the collection hierarchy concept recently launched by the Campaign for Real Recycling,” he said. “It was a drastic over-simplification of the many complex considerations that a local authority has to balance when deciding on recycling.
“The CRR's hierarchy is blatantly biased to kerbside-segregated collection, reflecting the blinkered view held by many critics who seem to regard commingling as some sort of heresy,” he added.
With Greenstar's involvement in both commingled and source-separated collections, Mr Wakelin explained that his defence of the commingled option did not mean he was entirely opposed to source-separated as a choice for some councils.
“Unlike others, Greenstar is not blinkered,” he said. “We support commingling but are totally open-minded about any recycling system that helps achieve objectives. We see roles for both commingled and source-separated collections, according to local needs and conditions.”
“We share WRAP's opinion that 'it's wrong to assume that one type of collection scheme is always going to be cheaper of produce better quality material than another',” he added.
Greenstar aims to develop a network of both 'super' and 'feeder' MRFs around the UK (see letsrecycle.com story), with the first of its 'super MRFs', a 300,000 tonne facility at Aldridge in the West Midlands, currently undergoing commissioning.
And, Mr Wakelin claimed that the high-quality sorting the MRFs would allow for commingled collections were a vital part of efforts to boost both the quality and quantity of recyclables.
He explained: “The world has moved on and will keep moving on. Rather than clinging to the past, let's encourage new thinking and new solutions for the considerable challenges that lie ahead.
“Remember, Britain has to increase its current recycling rate by around a further 20% if it is to reach its 40% target in two years. We've got to recycle more and recycle better,” he added.
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