PAFA, a trade association for the plastic packaging industry in the United Kingdom, is welcoming news that the U.K. government has awarded a grant to WES Greenstar to boost the recycling of mixed plastic household waste by 20,000 metric tons a year.
The grant was awarded by the Waste & Resources Action Programme. The grant will be used by WES Greenstar to increase the recycling of more challenging plastics, including meat and fruit trays, yogurt pots and margarine tubs.
“This is positive news, but now we need to encourage local collection infrastructure to avoid contamination issues that are presently undermining the U.K. recycling industry. Most people think that mixed plastics in their waste bin cannot be recycled – and most local authorities leave mixed plastics at the bottom of the heap when it comes to collections for recycling because their performance has always been measured on weight,” says Barry Turner, PAFA’s chief executive designate.
“This major boost for mixed plastics recycling capacity should now help convince everyone that plastics are a very valuable resource, which not only protect goods from damage and spoilage but also have a useful ongoing life,” Turner continues.
“The next step is to get local authorities thinking more positively about the collection process needed to get the best out of plastic as a resource efficient material. In particular, local councils need to ensure that plastics are properly segregated from other waste to avoid contamination which can severely affect the quality of the recycled materials,” Turner adds.
PAFA says the next step is to introduce consistent collection systems across the UK local authority waste management structure. “This would overcome the very real confusion that the public has over what can and cannot be recycled. Once we have consistency in collection, we are on the way to a ‘joined-up’ waste management system in the UK,” says Turner.