Environment
ACE tackles 'higher than average' use of cartons on Guernsey
The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) has installed eight carton collection units in Guernsey to deal with the higher than average use of cartons on the island.
The dairy on Guernsey uses predominantly cartons and so the amount of cartons entering the waste stream is above the 0.2% UK average.
Mayside Recycling will collect and bale the cartons from the eight new units and ship them to Perrys Recycling in Dorset where they are stored until there is a full load for shipping to Sweden and Norway.
The packs are then recycled at the Örebro mill in Sweden and the Hurum mill in Norway.
Tetra Pak recycling operations manager Fay Dashper said it "made sense" for the alliance to "work with local authorities to make sure they had carton recovery".
Collected packs are recycled in Sweden and Norway
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Comments
Jeff Cawley - 20 October 2008
I'd like to know if the ACE has carried out any life cycle analysis on this scheme.
Is shipping cartons from Guernsey to Dorset and then to Scandinavia better for the environment than simply sending them to a local landfill site on the island?
Jenny Walden - 13 November 2008
Hi Jeff,
In response to your question about Life Cycle Analysis, this is certainly something that ACE UK takes very seriously. ACE UK has a dedicated recycling team who look at (and aim to reduce) environmental impacts at each stage of a carton's life cycle, which of course takes into account end-use.
We currently work with over 370 local authorities in the UK on carton recycling, so unfortunately we don't have an LCA specific to carton recycling in Guernsey. However, environmental studies across the world consistently show cartons to be a low carbon packaging option.
We are committed to making sure that as many consumers as possible can recycle their cartons. At the same time Tetra Pak UK measure all the processes and journeys in the carton recycling process and will ensure that the carbon produced is completely offset. We previously used a paper-mill in Fife to recycle all cartons collected in the UK, but unfortunately this closed in 2006. Since the closure we continue to undertake trials with UK mills, and intend to have UK processing available soon.
In the meantime, the dedicated carton mill in Sweden is the best alternative, particularly because it uses renewable energy sources.
You can find out more information on carton recycling on the website, http://www.tetrapakrecycling.co.uk/.
Best wishes,
Jenny Walden
National Recycling Operations Officer, ACE UK
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