RECOUP’s recent report indicates the change in people’s lifestyles, working from home, home schooling and less travel has led to a ‘significant’ plastics recycling rate increase from household collections.
Plastics Recycling member-based charity, RECOUP, have published their UK Household Plastics Collection Survey, annually, which is a full analysis of Local Authority data of plastics recycling collections alongside that known to be placed on the market.
The 2020 survey covers retrospective data from 2019 and demonstrates that up until March 2020 the overall rate increased by 2%.
The collection rate of plastics packaging recycling April 2019 to March 2020 is Plastic bottles – 59%; Plastic pots, tubs, and trays – 33%; Plastic film – 7%; All household plastic packaging– 39%.
This is a sizeable increase on figures from the 2020 RECOUP Plastics Collection Survey report which showed only a 2% increase in collection rates during 2019.
Up until March of this year, indications were that citizens were still failing to engage with the recycling message and plastics packaging that could be recycled by Local Authorities simply was not being given the opportunity to be processed into new products, RECOUP says.
However, it says more recent statistics indicate the change in lifestyles of citizens, working from home, home schooling, less travel and indeed less on-the-go food consumption has led to a significant plastics recycling rate increase from household collections.
Steve Morgan, Policy & Infrastructure Manager commented: “Local Authorities report an increase in excess of 20% of recycling in the first lockdown period, evidence which has been backed up by RECOUP member, Veolia, which has seen a 10% increase in kerbside plastics collected this year.
“This is a sizeable increase on figures from the 2020 RECOUP Plastics Collection Survey report which showed only a 2% increase in collection rates during 2019.
“With more people being at home and many changing their ways of working during 2020, initial figures do suggest that when people have the easy access to be able to recycle plastic that they do choose to do the right thing.”
Green recovery
As we all reflect on what has been a difficult year, there have been ‘loud calls’ for a green recovery, RECOUP says, but there are questions about what this looks like and how can it be translated into tangible actions with sustainability at the heart of it.
There has never been a greater need for the UK economy to take every opportunity to prosper and recover than now. It says the loss from the plastic packaging not collected for recycling in terms of resource value ‘cannot be underestimated’.
RECOUP, Citizen & Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Anne Hitch, said: “We must not fail to make the most of the opportunity we have been given and continue to engage with citizens to drive recycling rates even further, and help them understand how, by doing their bit in their own homes, they are reducing plastic pollution and giving plastic the opportunity to be kept in the loop. It is crucial we make the most of driving sustained behaviour change whilst we move onto the ‘new norm’.”
RECOUP says it is in a ‘unique position’ through their knowledge and experience of the plastics recycling value chain, to understand each part of the collection, sorting, and reprocessing infrastructure and capabilities in the UK.
The charity says it can ‘translate the opportunities and challenges within the sector into meaningful and positive environmental action’.
Change in our waste flows
Tim Duret, Director of Sustainable Technology, Veolia UK and Ireland commented: “2020 has seen a change in our waste flows as people are spending a lot more time at home than previously and Veolia has seen a 10% increase in kerbside plastics collected compared to the year prior.
“It is clear that people are making an effort to recycle more, with the results from RECOUP showing that we are going in the right direction with plastics recycling growing, we need a larger increase, and we need this faster.
It is clear that people are making an effort to recycle more, with the results from RECOUP showing that we are going in the right direction with plastics recycling growing, we need a larger increase, and we need this faster.
“What remains critical is that we back up our environmental responsibility with legislation to create impactful change. The Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy and Plastics Packaging Tax will provide the financial drivers for manufacturers to eco-design their products, increasing recycling and simplifying the process, keeping materials in a circular loop.
“This will also inspire a forecast £10bn of investment from the waste sector over the next ten years, allowing for greater innovation and development of domestic infrastructure which together will increase recycling, reduce carbon emissions, create green jobs and preserve biodiversity.”
The full edition of the survey will be available for RECOUP members from Monday 7 December. In line with RECOUP policy the report will not be in the open domain until 3 months after its publication to its members.
