Concern despite PET recycling increase

Archiv – Almost 450 000 tonnes of PET bottles were collected for recycling in Europe last year – equivalent to a collection increase of 30% and to a recovery rate of around 25%, according to Petcore.Almost 450 000 tonnes of PET bottles were collected for recycling in Europe last year – equivalent to a collection increase of 30% and to a recovery rate of around 25%, according to Petcore. However, the PET recycling organisation’s director Frank Koelewijn told Environment Daily of his continuing concern at the low recovery levels in the U.K., noting that all other countries now have national collection infrastructures targeting both trade and household refuse.
In addition, Petcore believes German collection rates may have fallen 50% since the introduction in January of mandatory deposits on many one-way drinks containers. Return systems are ’virtually non-existent’€™ and no clear rules exist on what retailers should do with returned bottles, it is argued.
Petcore is forecasting a reduction of 64 000 tonnes in PET bottle collection in Germany this year, as well as losses for the combined drinks and recycling industries of ‘‚¬ 4 billion.