The first phase of WRAP's 10million research programme aims to substantially increase the amount of glass, plastic and wood recycled in the UK. The 3.6million has been split between 21 projects that will research innovative recycling methods and new uses for recycled materials. The funding will see 2.1million allocated for research into glass recycling, 1.1million for plastics and 405,000 for wood recycling.
The projects will contribute towards the implementation of WRAP’s Business Plan which was launched in June 2001 and set targets for four material streams – paper, plastics, glass and wood. WRAP is providing more than 60% of the funding with the total cost expected to be 5.6million. WRAP will be launching a second open call for R&D; funding on the March 18.
The projects are being carried out by leading industry organisations, private companies and academic institutions. WRAP hopes that they will lead to an additional 300,000 tonnes of glass – an increase of almost 50% over current recycling levels, an extra 40,000 tonnes of plastic and 1,000,000 tonnes of wood recycled.
Jennie Price, chief executive of WRAP, said: “The excellent response to the open call for research proposals highlights the real need for resources targeted at market development R&D; in the recycling sector and emphasises the importance of the role which WRAP can play in stimulating recycling across the UK. The high standard of the projects we are funding is a very positive sign for future years and we will be launching another round of R&D; funding in March.”
Fluorescent tubes
The 11 glass projects cover identifying and overcoming barriers to glass recycling and improving collection in rural areas, increasing cullet consumption in concrete and other construction products as well as new glass grinding technology. Another project will develop a way to return end-of-life fluorescent tubes to the glass melter and research will be carried out on the use of architectural flat glass in UK construction and recycling options for waste flat glass from the demolition and replacement window industries. The use of high quality recycled glass in the treatment and purification of the UK’s drinking water will also be looked at as a potential new market.
Six projects will look at how plastic recycling can be increased and this will see the development of laminated plastic sheeting made from mixed plastic waste which offers weight and cost advantages over plywood. Research will also tackle contaminated waste streams such as mixed plastics waste and chemically contaminated polyethylene drums.
Four projects focus on wood and these include developing technology to recycle preservative-treated timber such as railway sleepers and telegraph poles.
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