The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has responded to criticism by paper and glass trade associations of Simpler Recycling.
A Defra spokesperson told Circular Online: “We are committed to a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, and recycling rates increase.
“This is why we will create a road map to a zero-waste economy and will deliver reforms to make recycling simpler for the public.”
Paper and glass trade associations have urged the UK Government to abandon its plans to allow exemptions for commingled collections of paper, card, glass and liquid cartons as part of Simpler Recycling.
The Associations said the current proposals threaten the quality of recovered materials and “appose” the government’s ambition to transition to a zero-waste economy.
Simpler Recycling requires in-scope recyclable waste streams to be collected in separate containers unless this is technically or economically impracticable or provides no significant environmental benefits.
In May 2024, the Conservative Government published its response to a consultation seeking views on proposed exemptions to the requirement to collect the core recyclable waste streams separately.
76% of the 202 respondents to the consultation – 170 local authorities, 18 representative trade bodies, and 14 others – agreed with an exemption to allow for the co-collection of paper and card, plastic, metal and glass in one bin without needing a written assessment.
The Consultation Impact Assessment for Simpler Recycling, informed by analysis from WRAP, assumed a 4% contamination rate for separately collected dry recyclables, 9.5% for twin-stream collections and 13.5% for commingled mixed dry recyclable collections.
Because of this analysis, the then Secretary of State was satisfied that co-collection of dry recyclable materials would not “significantly reduce their potential to be recycled” as long as dry recycling is collected separately from residual and organic waste.
In its consultation response, Defra said allowing local authorities and other waste collectors to make waste collection decisions locally will ensure a “commonsense approach” to delivering recycling services and avoid a “proliferation of unnecessary bins”.
Paper and glass trade associations come out against commingled collections
The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI), British Glass and The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK have said the current proposals threaten the quality of recovered materials.
CPI, British Glass and ACE UK said the proposals will also lead to “significantly increased” reprocessing costs for waste processors and reprocessors, which will decrease investment in recycling infrastructure.
The Trade Associations are instead calling for separate collections of paper/card and glass, with liquid cartons collected alongside plastics and metals.
Andrew Large, Director General at the Confederation of Paper Industries said: “Whilst we agree with the ambition to mandate collections of certain materials, in order to meet recycling targets and achieve a more efficient, circular bioeconomy, we need a system that will drive up the quality of recyclable materials.
“Commingling paper and card with other materials damages the quality of recyclate collected, ultimately hampering progress towards a zero-waste economy.”
