Biffa Waste calls for halt to export of plastic scrap

Biffa Waste, an integrated waste management company based in the U.K., has called for phasing out problem plastics and making packaging as recyclable as possible with a focus on closed loop recycling.

To support its call for a restriction on the export of plastic scrap, Biffa recently released a report titled "Plastic Surgery: Managing Waste Plastics" that calls for a ban on the export of plastic scrap as part of a drive for all plastics to be recycled within the United Kingdom. By preventing the export of plastic scrap, the U.K. would retain the material as a resource, generate investment in the U.K., which would create jobs, and avoid unintended environmental problems in other countries, the company says.

Biffa’s report also says the demonization of plastic is resulting in unintended consequences for U.K. recycling, which has the potential to make the country’s plastic problem worse.

The report highlights the need for clearer differentiation between plastics that are easily recycled versus unnecessary single-use plastic and difficult-to-recycle plastics.

Biffa argues that short-term publicity exercises culminating in the rise of alternative materials, including compostable plastics, bioplastics and plastic pouches, are giving consumers false confidence that they are choosing recyclable items, when these materials are generally more environmentally harmful and are contaminating plastic recycling streams.

To address the issue, Biffa is calling for simplification in plastic packaging with a focus on closed loop recycling to ensure that where plastic packaging is necessary, it is developed to be as recyclable as possible into its original form or other materials.

The report also recommends that simpler and clearer labeling be backed by improved measures to make recycling collections more consistent across the U.K.

Michael Topham, Biffa CEO, says, “Everyone is rightly concerned about our dependence on plastics and on how we deal with our plastic waste. The time has come for decisive action to ensure we only use plastics in a sustainable manner and to restore confidence in our waste and recycling systems. Biffa is today calling for a total ban on the export of unprocessed plastic waste. This will not only ensure our plastic waste is dealt with properly here in the U.K. but will also support investment and jobs and provide vital raw materials for the U.K. circular economy. At the same time, we must phase out plastics that cannot be recycled, and deliver labeling and collection systems that are easy to understand and work for households and businesses.”

The report offers several recommendations:

1. Stop exporting plastic scrap. Global markets are inconsistent, which makes it difficult to develop consistent homes for plastic scrap.
2. Phase-out problem plastics. Single-use plastics and difficult-to-recycle plastic composites, such as black plastic food trays and compostable plastics, should be phased out. Where plastic packaging is necessary, it should be as recyclable as possible. Higher compliance fees should be assessed to producers of nonrecyclable or difficult-to-recycle plastic packaging.
3. Make recycling easier. If recycling is difficult, it is less likely that people will do it. It needs to be made easier through a simplification of the array of plastics, clear unambiguous labeling and more consistent recycling collections.

   The report also calls for greater policy support for U.K. recycling, including mandatory business recycling collections, a tax on plastic packaging and an urgent review of the current producer responsibility (PRN) system, which Biffa argues will all be vital long-term drivers for truly effective recycling reform.