The Government’s recent initiatives to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042 should not be seen as an alternative to kerbside recycling, but should work alongside it, the Local Government Association (LGA) says.
In a published briefing on the debate around disposable coffee cups, deposit return schemes and plastic waste, the LGA says the Government’s recent initiatives, including the announcement of a deposit return scheme (DRS), are positive, but “if the proposals are to be a success, they must work alongside kerbside recycling and not be seen as an alternative to it”.
Waste and recycling are among the most valued services any council provides, it says. They are used by all council taxpayers and represent the third biggest spend item in a council’s budget. A doubling of spend by councils to £3.28bn has seen recycling rates improve 400% in the last decade.
“Some councils are working with charities to pilot schemes to reduce coffee cup waste on-the-go. Initial trials of these schemes have proved successful. Producers and retailers should be encouraged to join localised waste reductions schemes across the country.”
98% of local authorities currently provide a kerbside collection scheme, which includes plastic bottles. Over half of all councils also provide drop-off points for plastics. Despite these services, only 57% of all plastic bottles consumed in this country are recycled.
Disposable coffee cups have a recycling rate of less than 1% in the UK. Most cups have a plastic coating that must be separated from paper before recycling, which ordinary recycling systems cannot do. A large number of discarded coffee cups end up in landfill, creating an estimated 25,000 tonnes of waste.
Dealing with non-recyclable coffee cup waste is a significant extra cost to councils. The LGA says.
“Taxpayers are currently funding around 90% of the costs of packaging waste disposal. Councils would like to see producers and retailers take greater responsibility for the design of packaging, for example by funding recycling and increasing the recyclable content in coffee cups.
“Some councils are working with charities to pilot schemes to reduce coffee cup waste on-the-go. Initial trials of these schemes have proved successful. Producers and retailers should be encouraged to join localised waste reductions schemes across the country.”
Deposit Return Scheme
The LGA says the impacts of DRS will vary across local authority areas, depending on the local collection system and the volume of litter. It says councils will be concerned about “losing valuable materials” in the recycling stream, as well as having to pick up the costs of returning packaging to retailers.
“We would like to see councils fully recompensated for any additional costs arising from the schemes,” the LGA says, and that to improve the processing of plastic bottles, the Government should give further consideration to how the infrastructure for plastic reprocessing can be supported.
“We would welcome a discussion with the plastics industry about what measures can be taken to redesign products and packaging to help support the market for reprocessed plastic.”
Coffee Cup Waste
Dealing with non-recyclable coffee cup waste is a significant extra cost to councils, the LGA says.
“In some cases, coffee retail chains are making recycling more difficult for councils because the coffee cup materials are getting mixed up with the paper that many householders have taken time and trouble over collecting, resulting in more waste going to landfill,” the LGA says.
Councils would like to see producers and retailers take greater initiative, the LGA says.
“Local authorities have a major role to play in supporting high streets and small businesses. Councils are well placed to work with independent local retailers who want to play their part in recycling disposable packaging.
“Central government can support this by ensuring that councils have the tools and flexibility to work directly with smaller retailers to help them find affordable recycling solutions.”
