The requirement for a rethink comes because the UK paper industry has issued what is in effect an ultimatum to local authorities requiring them to collect paper separately from other materials for fear of contamination.
The requirement will have major implications for collection authorities across the UK including several in Dorset, Wiltshire and in West London who currently collect sacks from householders full of paper and board and other recyclables such as cans and plastic bottles. The bags are then split open for sorting at a MRF (materials recycling facility).
Existing
In its statement issued today, the Paper Federation, with the support of the two paper recycling organisations explained that “some existing municipal household collection systems do not meet the emerging requirements” of future industry standards.
The issue has arisen because of the introduction of standard EN643 which will require greater traceability of paper so that customers, such as food manufacturers, can be assured that the cardboard and paper packaging cannot contaminate food. There are fears that the remains of food in cans, for example, could contaminate the paper and boad. The recycled newsprint sector is also keen to ensure that its supplies are not contaminated.
Three years
The paper industry is giving local authorities three years to sort their collections out and it is expected that existing comingled collections will have to change by 2005 or earlier. Otherwise the local authorities will face having their paper banned by the mills. The industry notes that identical standards are currently being adopted throughout Europe and are expected to be taken up by the main countries to which recovered paper is exported.
The industry statement said: “Separated collection is the only viable future option, but it is recognised that changing many current collecting practices will take time and guidance is being produced to help the transition and ensure new systems are compatible with the new standard.”
Martin Oldman, chief executive of the Paper Federation, said he recognised that this would increase costs to local authorities but that the industry felt that the Landfill Tax should be used to help meet the cost of kerbside collections.
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