Soap Box Blog: Ignore the headlines and welcome zero-waste plans

“Green ‘zero waste’ recycling policy could mean up to six bins”, this morning’s Telegraph cries. “£1,000 fine for putting any food scraps in the dustbin as ‘zero waste’ policy could lead up to five-bin headache”, says the Daily Mail. The Daily Express, meanwhile, led with the dramatic: “Recycling targets ‘may cost £50 a year”.

All of this may be based on some element of truth in yesterday’s series of announcements from Hilary Benn on how he hopes to reduce Britain’s huge dependence on landfill in the next ten years.

Now, far be it from me to criticise my media colleagues’ choice of angle on their stories, but this all sounds a bit scary for householders. Yet behind the headlines there is much for the packaging sector to feel about in what Benn said yesterday.

First, the packaging industry should be grateful for Benn’s comments on energy from waste. The packaging industry has been crying out for more EfW technology to be built to solve the landfill problem, especially for packaging and other waste that it is difficult to recycle.

As far as recycling is concerned we should also welcome Benn’s comments. If in the next ten years a whole range of packaging materials are to be banned from landfill – possibly including plastics, paper, glass, metals and wood – this will only serve to create the supply chain for more recycling infrastructure. Demand for currently less-recycled materials, especially plastics, from brand owners, retailers and packaging manufacturers is already strong but it will surely continue to grow. This announcement boosts recycling, especially in the plastics sector.

Most of all, we should welcome Benn’s announcement that all local authorities will be required to collect all recyclable materials by 2020. This will put an end to the confusing mish-mash of systems that currently operates. As well as pushing up recycling rates, the measure will go a long way to improving public perception of packaging. Labelling on recyclability will become meaningful, and the public will have confidence that their efforts to sort and recycle their waste will not be in vain.

I don’t want six bins in my drive, and nor do I want a £1,000 fine for getting my waste disposal wrong. I suspect, though, that neither of these things will ever happen. But I do want recycling rates to be higher and public opinion on packaging to reflect the reality of our industry’s role in society. There may be a long way to go yet, but Hilary Benn’s announcements yesterday should help us reach both of those aims.

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