RECYCLING UK
BPF's Recycling Group reprocessed about two-thirds of plastics recycled in UK in 2013 / Challenges remain
More than 70% of the plastics recycled in the UK in 2013 – or about 660,000 t of the total of 900,000 t – was reprocessed by members of the British Plastics Federation’s (BPF, London / UK; www.bpf.co.uk) Recycling Group (BPFRG) . According to a survey carried out by the association, its 39 member companies represent about GBP 900m in plastics sales, and stand for more than 4,700 employees.
In volume terms, most of the plastic – 44.5% or 294,000 t – recycled by the group’s members in 2013 consisted of PE, followed by PET (22.8% or 151,000 t) and PP (12.9% or 85,000 t). The amounts of other plastic types recycled were relatively small, with PVC coming in at 29,000 t (4.4%), PS at almost 5,000 t (0.8%), ABS at 2,250 t (0.3%) and PC at just 580 t (0.1%). Of the 660,000 t of plastics that were recycled in 2013, 43% or 283,000 t, were exported, the BPF’s survey found.
Despite the gains, BPFRG chairman Roger Baynham pointed out that, “Challenging recycling targets which favour quantity over quality, and a flawed PRN system are still some of the key issues facing the industry. In addition, exports markets are now feeling the pressure too, with a challenging Chinese market and devaluated currency, which calls for a more resilient UK reprocessing sector.”
According to a recent report by Recoup (Peterborough / UK; www.recoup.org), the total amount of plastic packaging recycled in the UK in H1 2015 amounted to 413,000 t – for details, see Plasteurope.com of 31.08.2015.
e-Service:
“BPF Recycling Group Annual Return Report: Analysis of 2013 Data” as a PDF file
In volume terms, most of the plastic – 44.5% or 294,000 t – recycled by the group’s members in 2013 consisted of PE, followed by PET (22.8% or 151,000 t) and PP (12.9% or 85,000 t). The amounts of other plastic types recycled were relatively small, with PVC coming in at 29,000 t (4.4%), PS at almost 5,000 t (0.8%), ABS at 2,250 t (0.3%) and PC at just 580 t (0.1%). Of the 660,000 t of plastics that were recycled in 2013, 43% or 283,000 t, were exported, the BPF’s survey found.
Despite the gains, BPFRG chairman Roger Baynham pointed out that, “Challenging recycling targets which favour quantity over quality, and a flawed PRN system are still some of the key issues facing the industry. In addition, exports markets are now feeling the pressure too, with a challenging Chinese market and devaluated currency, which calls for a more resilient UK reprocessing sector.”
According to a recent report by Recoup (Peterborough / UK; www.recoup.org), the total amount of plastic packaging recycled in the UK in H1 2015 amounted to 413,000 t – for details, see Plasteurope.com of 31.08.2015.
e-Service:
“BPF Recycling Group Annual Return Report: Analysis of 2013 Data” as a PDF file
17.09.2015 Plasteurope.com [232228-0]
Published on 17.09.2015