Rapid growth in UK plastic bottle recycling

Archiv – Some 92% of UK local authorities now offer recycling collection facilities for plastic bottles, according to research funded by the Waste Action Resources Programme (WRAP). Some 92% of UK local authorities now offer recycling collection facilities for plastic bottles, according to research funded by the Waste Action Resources Programme (WRAP). The ’UK Plastic Bottle Recycling Survey 2007’ reveals that the UK is now collecting some 132 000 tonnes per annum via this route – equivalent to 3300 million plastic bottles. In effect, 25% of bottles in the UK household waste stream are now being collected for recycling compared to 3% as recently as 2001
The survey reveals that a widespread shift towards kerbside collection has played a key role in increasing plastic bottle recycling rates. Some 60% of local authorities now offer kerbside collection of plastic bottles, reaching a total of 13.9 million households. Bring schemes are offered by 77% of local authorities while half the councils in the UK provide both bring and kerbside facilities. The average quantity of plastic bottles collected at the kerbside is 7.5 kg per household per annum – an increase of 2 kg on last year. The best-performing kerbside schemes are achieving collection volumes in excess of 20 kg per year.
The continued growth in plastic bottle recycling facilities is attributed to ‘€˜increasing pressure for local authorities to provide effective recycling programmes in order to meet recycling targets and avoid rising landfill tax on residual waste’€™. Other factors include: government funding; increased recognition that plastic bottle recycling
facilities can be provided cost-effectively; an improved baling/handling infrastructure; strong public demand for services; an increase in alternate weekly collections; and ‘€˜increased confidence in markets for collected plastic bottles’€™.
Local authority declarations suggest kerbside collections of plastic bottles will reach more than 14.6 million or 56% of UK homes by 2008. It is also predicted that around 150 000 tonnes of plastic bottles will be collected annually by 2009, equating to a recycling rate of 28%.
Paul Davidson, Plastics Technology Manager at WRAP, comments ‘€˜We need to encourage local authorities to move towards kerbside systems, which on average outperform bring schemes by 4:1.’€™