Plastics Recycling - The Future

• RECycling Of Used Plastics Limited.• Formed in 1990 by industry as a not for profit member

based organisation• Trading subsidiary formed in 1996 (RSL)• Charity status– David Bellamy (Patron)• Initial focus on collection and sorting activities• Focus on plastics packaging• Work with UK and international plastic supply chains

• Website• Education Resources• Enquiries• Presentations • Exhibitions• Representation• Communication• Promotion• Research• Technical support• Advising• Fund raising• Bespoke consultancy

www.recoup.org

Increasing Plastics Packaging Recycling

(in a sustainable and commercially viable way)

Without packaging, much food and many goods would be damaged or spoiled before they got to us. In less developed countries without the sophisticated distribution and packaging systems that we have in the UK, as much as 50% of food never reaches consumers.

Some goods (such as fruit and vegetables) do not need any protection for shoppers to carry them home – but none could be transported from producer to shop without packaging.

A delicate balance has to be struck between providing adequate protection for the products inside and keeping packaging to a minimum. Industry has an interest in using only the right amount of packaging because this reducescosts, complies with the packaging laws and protects the environment.

Packaging typically protects food and goods which contain more than ten times the energy and resources that went into the packaging, so it does more than make modern lifestyles possible – it saves food and prevents products going to waste.

Packaging, and specific

plastic types are used for

a reason

The Current Status of UK Plastics Packaging Recycling

• Packaging Obligations / Producer Responsibility• 32% recycling target for 2011 and 2012 • 2010 target met mostly through;

DEFRA and ACP ReportsFor most materials, the collection, sorting and reprocessing infrastructure is well established. Plastics are the exception.

Ensure that a greater proportion of the plastic packaging on the UK market can be easily recycled (i.e. is easy to sort mechanically)

45% actual plastics packaging recycling by 2020

It is important for each authority to make its own decision on recycling systems and collection frequencies but

There should be a requirement for local authorities to consider the needs of industry in their specifications especially in respect to quality of material recovered.

There needs to be a step change in the recovery of plastics ..... and more strategic coordination between retailers, waste companies and local authorities.

Isn’t it all just plastic?

Thermoset >

< Thermoplastic

.... And can’t it all just be recycled ?

UK Household Plastic Recycling

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

450,000

Bring bottle Kerbside bottle Non bottle bring Non bottle kerbside

Tonn

es

425

12,715

281,097

1%

3%

48.5%

Ten Years Of Progress

• 12,715 tonnes to 357,461 tonnes collected• 3% plastic bottle recycling rate to 48.5% recycling rate• 3.7 million to 21.7 million kerbside bottle collection• Quadrupling of bring collection sites• No non bottle collections to 76,364 tonnes

Recyclables Collection• 21% weekly• 73% fortnightly• 6% other

Kerbside Plastic Collection

152 44 Combination115

Waste Collection• 43% weekly• 57% fortnightly

Handling• 58% sort at MRF • 42% sort at Kerbside

What is the most important factor preventing a kerbside bottle collection in your area

20 responses ;

• Difficult to add plastic due to kerbside sort vehicles• Existing waste and recycling contract inflexible

• Currently focussing on other materials to meet targets• Bottle scheme would be too expensive• No suitable local handling / sorting facility• Not confident in market outlets for plastic bottles• Plastics extracted and recycled from MBT plant• Little political interest within council to add bottles

What is the most important factor preventing a kerbside non-bottle collection in your area

127 responses

1 2 3 4 5 6 70

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Num

ber o

f res

pons

es

61 local authorities with bottle collection schemes have categorically said they will not be introducing mixed plastic collections

1) Lack of end markets in the UK, will not export

2) No suitable local sorting facility

3) Too challenging from an operational viewpoint

4) No confidence in market and concerns over continued availability of export markets

Projected Household Plastics Packaging Collection Growth

• Need for a ‘value recycling’ approach

• Making a positive contribution and not create a diminishing value system.

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 20150

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Bottles Other plastics

Year

kTon

nes

Recycle On The Go

EU Recovery Rates

http://www.plasticseurope.org/Document/plastics---the-facts-2011.aspx?FolID=2

The Plastics Packaging Journey

• Size• Shape• Polymer Type (s)• Ease of separation• Additives• Contaminants

• Bottles, Non bottle rigids, Flexibles

Household Non Bottle Plastic Recycling Guide

- Aimed at local authorities and their service providers- Up to local authorities how and if messages passed to consumers

The term ‘bioplastics’ is commonly used to describe two different aspects of the product:

• Disposal option – i.e. biodegradable/compostable• Material source – i.e. renewable/biomass-based plastics.

Compostable Plastics - undergoes degradation by biological processes during composting – up to 180 days.

e.g. PLA

Biobased Plastics - produced from renewable resources; not in all cases biodegradable and compostable - e.g. PET from sugar cane.

Bioplastics

• ‘Fully biodegradable’

• ‘100% fully compostable’

• ‘100% compostable’

• ‘Biocompostable’

• ‘Degradable’

• ‘Fully biodegradable and 100% compostable’

• ‘Reusable, Recyclable, Biodegradable’

• Made from renewable materials

Bio-based plastic• Made by converting the natural sugars in sugarcane into bioethanol, which forms one of the key ingredients for making common polymers

• It looks, functions and recycles just like traditional plastic but with a lower footprint

• No difference in shelf life or weight from regular bottles

• Coca Cola, Nestle Waters, Danone and others using this technology

• By 2020, all CCE bottles will be like this.

• CCE are working on the “perfect sustainable” bottle.

More bottle collection through householder behaviour change

Infrastructure for non bottle plastics

Innovation

Integration

Terminology

Incineration or landfill

Marketing vs Sustainability

The plastics packaging recycling journey

UK a world leader in viable sustainable resource management

The future of plastics packaging

Stuart FosterDeputy CEORecoup

1 Metro CentreWelbeck WayWoodstonPeterboroughPE2 7UH

Tel: 01733 390021Direct Dial: 01733 375673 E-mail: stuart.foster@recoup.orgWebsite : www.recoup.org