The compliance scheme announced yesterday that it has collected 53,500 tonnes of cullet from businesses in the 18 months since the project was launched in July 2001.
Valpak said this tonnage, collected from 16,000 participating premises, secured its place as the largest single glass collector from the commercial market in the UK.
Household
But a question remains over the extent of Valpak's work with local authorities. The organisation has previously said it was working with councils in Westminster, Camden and Kirklees to increase glass recycling – but few details of these arrangements are available.
Valpak spokesman Jeremy Cuthbert told letsrecycle.com today that these arrangements were still in place and they include household as well as business cullet. The compliance scheme also has glass arrangements in parts of Cornwall and in Horsham.
The organisation is currently assessing its 2002 data on the schemes, which it is hoping to publish in February 2003, he said. Mr Cuthbert confirmed Valpak's involvement in the local authority arena: “We are still involved with local authorities and it's an area that we'd; aim to stay involved in.”
Develop
On the subject of the commercial collections, market development manager Rosalind Dorning said: “We are thrilled to have reached the 50,000 tonne milestone – it just go to show what can be achieved with the right infrastructure and systems in place.”
Recycle-more-glass was founded by Valpak in order to guarantee material-specific PRNs for its members. It collects mixed-coloured glass free of charge from businesses across the UK and works with end markets such as aggregates.
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