The real reward for recycling

Its a fact that in the future our reliance on oil will be tested to the limit. One day it will no longer be available for the production of plastic materials that we have become so reliant on.

But what is also a fact is that as a nation, as well as globally of course, we continue to benefit from the advantages that plastic offers us, including key aspects such as food preservation and of course that it can be recycled at the end of life. In addition, the green industry has created a huge manufacturing resource, providing green jobs and more importantly, massive environmental benefits.

Key industry bodies and influencers are driving the future whereby we operate to a circular economy in which the waste and resources sector continues to evolve from a disposal industry into a sector which collects surplus materials and reprocesses them into commercial, quality products.

Driving up the quality of recycled materials emerging from UK reprocessing infrastructure is essential to achieving a sustainable shift to resource management and building a future-proof business model for our industry. How materials are collected and sorted before they are sent for reprocessing is the single most important factor driving the quality of feedstock. This is why we and our industry partners believe that the earliest possible date for the implementation of the much touted MRF code of practice is crucial. Any further delays will leave us sadly lacking when it comes to industry development and job growth.

Manufacturing

All these factors could enable the UK plastics industry to thrive at the vanguard of a green manufacturing revolution which will champion the use of recycled plastics as an alternative option to virgin materials. But in order to realise this vision we need to ensure we can effectively close the loop on plastic.

Over the past five years or so, UK consumers have done a fantastic job of recycling increasing amounts of plastic packaging which local authorities are striving harder than ever to collect. However, in order to truly close the loop on plastic, we need to address the creation of sustainable and solid long term markets for recycled plastics which in turn should drive up collection rates. After all, why collect it if it isnt worth anything?

Many big name brands and retailers are already buying into the idea of using recycled material in their packaging it fits nicely into their CSR policies – and more and more consumers are demanding it. What we need to be doing now though is really incentivising this market in the long term through updated legislation which makes recycled content king. What incentives can be put in place to boost UK manufacturing using recycled plastics?

Reform

The PRN/PERN system was originally set up to encourage recycling of materials like plastic in order to minimise the amount sent to landfill. However, it has been identified for some time that the system could do with some improvements, not only to incentivise recycling and keep this valuable resource in the UK, but also to promote the use of recycled content in packaging.

The current PRN system offers an unfair advantage to exporters of plastic waste, whilst the UKs domestic recycling industry misses out on the chance to do the right thing with post-consumer plastic by closing the loop. There has been much debate in the last 12 months about the nature of any improvements and how these should be applied in order to create long term end markets for recycled plastics. At Closed Loop Recycling, we are calling for a revised PRN system that rewards those packaging manufacturers, retailers or brand owners who proactively choose to use recycled plastic in their products.

Obligations

This could be achieved by allowing users of recycled content to offset this material against their PRN obligations thus creating an economic driver to bring about the best possible environmental outcome. This system has the potential to revolutionise the British recycling industry and create many thousands of jobs by stimulating the construction of further infrastructure right here in the UK. This system would help support closed loop applications and the circular economy by increasing the incentive for producers to use and specify recycled content in products and packaging.

The UK recycling targets are bold and ambitious and the government is to be applauded for building such national ambition but if we are to achieve these targets we must put in place the necessary economic drivers that will allow us to be a recycling superpower. A robust plastics recycling model of this kind will be invaluable for the industry to demonstrate that plastic is unquestionably a sustainable raw material that we, consumers and our industry partners can go on reaping the benefits of for many years to come.