Good news on the plastic packaging front in the third quarter

Many of those firms that receive money for cardboard from Collect and Recycle (http://www.collectandrecycle.com) also use the service for the recycling of plastic packaging film. They may therefore be interested in the Environment Agency's publication of provisional packaging waste recovery data for the third quarter of 2013 showing a significant rise in plastic packaging recycling collections, despite early suggestions that the sector's recycling target may not be met.

The Environment Agency published its data for July-September 2013 on October 22, showing a continued increase in plastic and glass packaging recovery rates from the first and second quarter figures. The third quarter of this year saw the processing in the UK and abroad of 195,331 tonnes of plastic, compared to the first quarter figure of 153,640 tonnes and 165,011 tonnes in the second quarter.

For many in the waste services sector, it once seemed unlikely that Defra's target of 37 per cent of plastic being recycled would be met. However, the target now looks much more achievable, with only around 169,000 tonnes - a figure broadly similar to that of the second quarter - now needing to be processed in the final quarter of the year.

The rise in plastics trading has been attributed by waste recycling observers to a marked increase in the value of the material's packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs). As the second quarter commenced, plastic PRNs had been priced at around £20-30, but this had leapt to £60-70 by the start of the third quarter. The increasing recycling target has been partially responsible for the rise in PRN price, although the restriction on the export of material to China - the UK's largest overseas market for material - has also played a part since it began in February 2013.

Although the improved recycling figures for plastic packaging were described as "very positive" by the Environment Exchange's senior market trader Ian Andrews, he warned that in 2014, with the target rising by an additional 5 per cent, a drop in the plastic PRN price could weaken the market's position. He predicted a softening in the price, adding that there had already been a fall in the spot market from £67 to around £54.

He commented that "Even though we are in a strong position at the moment, this is what we will need to be doing next year," adding that "The market needs to ascertain the trigger point that would enable export markets to remain open."

"If we do see prices drop off significantly we are going to create problems for 2014. The final quarter of the year usually sets the tone for the next year, and producers will

However the plastic recycling sector fares over the coming months and years, Collect and Recycle (http://www.collectandrecycle.com) will continue to provide the best service for not only plastics, but also cardboard collections and the recycling of all manner of other material, for firms looking to receive money for business waste.

Editor’s Note: Collect and Recycle (http://www.collectandrecycle.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Disposal levels 'could increase' as a result of new Defra waste plan

The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) has criticised Defra's Waste Management Plan for England as lacking vision, claiming that waste disposal levels could increase as a result of its implementation, cardboard collections specialist Collect and Recycle (http://www.collectandrecycle.com) reports.

The Committee, which represents 75 per cent of the UK's local authority recycling officers, declared the document to be a "missed opportunity", slamming the safe approach of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

July saw the release for consultation of Defra's Waste Management Plan, which provides an overview of England's waste management infrastructure and evaluates how support will be given for the proper implementation of the Waste Framework Directive's (WFD) objectives by government policy. The development of a Waste Management Plan is required under the WFD.

LARAC policy team member Andrew Bird wrote the Committee's consultation response, signalling its members' approval of any proposals seeking to improve the quality of UK recycling in addition to, where possible, avoiding the export of material abroad. However, it expressed concern about the risk of a "disjointed" UK-wide approach to waste policy as a result of the "decentralised" approach of leaving interpretation of the WFD to the devolved governments.

The group commented: "LARAC feels that as the plan doesn't introduce any new measures or policies, on the face of it should not introduce any additional financial burdens for Local Authorities.

"However we feel that the approach across the UK of handing down responsibility for interpretation of the Waste Framework Directive, whilst laudable from a decentralization point has none the less created a confusing and disjointed approach to developing Policies and targets. Evidenced is now emerging in the performance of recycling between England and the other devolved governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland."

LARAC also expressed fears that England was seeing largely stagnating recycling rates, with a heightening in the level of disposed-of residual waste being recorded for more than half of local authorities in 2012/13. The knock on effect of such a "new trend" is that waste disposal costs increase for councils at a time when they are already experiencing considerable financial pressure.

The Committee pointed to the absence of any new waste management measures in Defra's Plan as a sign of a "lack of vision" that could lead to increased waste disposal levels. It said that the waste and recycling industry was a growth area, drawing attention to the forecast 3.1 per cent growth in the Resource and Waste Management sectors, as well as a rise in growth in more specialist waste like WEEE, in the government treasury's own figures.

LARAC said that there would be numerous benefits of a more challenging plan, including "the circular economy everyone wants to see", even greater growth in UK recycling and more jobs. It's certainly an interesting response from a significant waste collections stakeholder, and here at Collect and Recycle (http://www.collectandrecycle.com), we'll pay close attention to the latest developments relating to Defra's Plan, as they happen.

Editor’s Note: Collect and Recycle (http://www.collectandrecycle.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.