UK department, association promote separate collection of scrap paper

The Recycling Association, a trade association for scrap paper processors in the U.K., has announced that it has welcomed a plan by the U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to consult on guidance and further regulations on separate collection of materials.

According to a news release from The Recycling Association, DEFRA published its Waste Management Plan for England 2021, and in it is a section on “measures to promote high-quality recycling.” Within this section is the news that DEFRA will consult on statutory guidance and regulations to help scrap collectors “meet their duties in relation to separate collection and promote high-quality recycling.”

Simon Ellin, chief executive of The Recycling Association, says he is “pleased to see that DEFRA will consult on guidance and regulation on quality this year.” He says the association published a Quality First Roadmap this month that also calls for the separate collection of paper and cardboard.

According to the roadmap, the association states that “separate collection of paper and cardboard from other recyclable materials should be introduced by local authorities by 2025.”

Ellin adds, “With markets closing or introducing restrictive measures around the world, it is absolutely vital that we focus on creating the highest quality commodities we can from the recyclate stream. Due to the current rules on not being able to export plastics to [non-Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD] countries and tougher rules on prenotification introduced by the updates to the Basel Convention, it is vital that we focus on quality for plastics and all materials.

He continues, “Plus, higher quality recycling is also wanted by domestic recyclers and mills that also need to remove contamination before recycling. By collecting paper and cardboard separately, it also creates space to introduce collection of food/beverage cartons and plastic films as core materials. This means we can recycle more items and at better quality for them all. With consistency of collection also part of the Environment Bill, it is a perfect opportunity to also introduce separate collection of paper and cardboard as a minimum. While it is disappointing that the Environment Bill has been delayed that will implement these measures, it is also important that we get this right. I’m therefore pleased to see that DEFRA will consult on tightening the rules on separate collections this year.”