Alupro and Pafa latest bodies to rebuke recycling proposals

Defra and devolved governments have launched a consultation into recycling targets, but both the plastic and aluminium sectors have said the proposals are not achievable with the current state of UK recycling infrastructure.

Rick Hindley, executive director of the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) said it supported “fair, realistic, challenging but above all achievable targets”, but that after considering the current and future situation for recycling said that 70% by 2020 was “not achievable”.

“Aluminium packaging is almost exclusively consumer packaging and therefore arises solely in the domestic waste stream. Alupro’s own analysis demonstrates that a 65% target for aluminium would be challenging, but probably achievable if the industry received the full support of government and other stakeholders,” said Hindley

Alupro wants the UK to follow the example of the rest of Europe and exclude the aluminium used in laminates and composites, which is “technically unrecoverable”, from the total figure for the aluminium placed on the market.

“The industry is totally committed to maximising recycling performance, and hopefully going beyond targets set by government,” said Hindley.

“This can only happen with the full and active support of government and other third-party stakeholders including all UK local authorities collecting aluminium drinks cans, aerosols and foil trays at the kerbside and working with industry to boost participation and capture rates,” he said.

Plastics recycling
In plastics packaging, the Packaging and Films Association has lent its weight to the arguments of the British Plastics Federation and the Plastics 2020 Challenge and said the “unachievable” 56.9% target showed that the calls for joined-up thinking and major investment in collection infrastructure had “fallen on deaf ears”.

Pafa chief executive designate Barry Turner said the targets were higher than any other European country despite the lack of consistent collection and sorting methodologies at local level.

“In the UK, we have a widely disparate approach from one local authority to the next and even borough to borough in London, because the UK has not sufficiently encouraged local authorities to operate to a consistent collection strategy supported by well-invested sorting facilities,” said Turner.

“These are a crucial pre-requisite if we are to succeed in providing the uncontaminated materials required to feed good quality recycling markets.”

Turner called for an “urgent rethink” between recyclers, central and local government. “Setting targets before we get firm and consistent strategic thinking will lead to a failure to move forward.”

Click here to read more on this issue and comments from the BPF and Plastics 2020.

Split glass targets
The glass industry supports the targets and particularly the decision to have two glass targets to encourage cullet back into remelt as opposed to other uses such as aggregates.

British Glass recycling manager Rebecca Cocking said the 69% glass targets were “reasonable and achievable” but would depend on what’s happening in terms of collections and the quality of the material that is collected.

The proposals also look at improving the transparency of producer funding and PRN revenues and the technical changes that need to be made to deliver on the strategy.

The consultation closes on 27 May and the full consultation document can be viewed by clicking here to visit the Defra website.

PACKAGING RECYCLING CONSULTATION
Desired achievement rate/Proposed business target for 2020

Total packaging recycling 71.9%/77.3%
Aluminium 69.6%/70%
Glass 69%/90%
Paper 86.2%/90%
Plastic 56.9%/75%
Steel 74.8%/94%
Wood 70.6%/74%

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