UK improves its recycling through exports

Envicura, the environmental consultancy from PCI, has released ‘Flexible Packaging in the UK Municipal Waste Stream 2011’.  The report details the place of flexible packaging within municipal waste in the UK, and provides detail of the ways in which all kinds of packaging are treated, compared with the rest of Europe.  It explores flexible packaging materials and their life cycle in procurement, production, waste collection and treatment, and will support materials planning and decision making throughout the flexible packaging chain; forming an important resource for flexible packaging manufacturers and converters, packer/fillers and waste management companies.
 
The study reveals that the key driver behind the UK’s improved recycling rates is export, with 37 per cent of packaging waste volume now being sent to countries such as India and China.  Plastic bags account for around 90 per cent of flexible waste recycling, with 95 per cent of that going abroad.  Packaging accounts for around 20 per cent of municipal waste, with flexible packaging making up approximately 13% of packaging waste.  It’s this 3 per cent of the total volume that draws a disproportionate amount of criticism on environmental grounds, because it is difficult or impossible to recycle.  The report reveals that over 80 per cent of flexible packaging waste currently goes to landfill.
 
Commenting on the report, author Steve Hillam said: ‘Despite the small proportion of the municipal waste stream accounted for by flexible packaging, much of it is landfilled, which demonstrates a real need for new materials and new waste management methods.’
 
For a copy of the Report logon to: www.envicura.com