Thursday 6th November 2008
CRR and WRAP to Look at Carbon Impacts of Local Authority Recycling
The Campaign for Real Recycling is joining with WRAP to undertake substantial new research on carbon issues around recycling. This research is primarily needed to inform local authorities about the carbon implications of the choices they make around recycling collection methods and related matters. New carbon-related local authority indicators set by the Department for Communities and Local Government, such as NI 185, NI 186 and NI 188 will require authorities to make a number of judgments and calculations as to the carbon footprint of their activities.
Mal Williams, CEO of Cylch and CRR chair, said: “In the case of recycling and related activities, such information as is available to help local authorities in assessing their carbon footprints appears somewhat piecemeal and there is a clear need for new, joined-up guidance. CRR believes WRAP has a key role to play, with its understanding of life-cycle issues and recycling research in general.”
Andy Doran, National Manager of CRR founder member Novelis Recycling, added: “Our concern is that some authorities will assume that carbon footprint is simply a function of how much diesel is used in the recycling collection, when this is far from the case. Transport may be the most publicly conspicuous aspect of the process but it also may represent less than 1% of the carbon emissions involved. There is also reason to believe that the carbon consequences of an authority making over-simplified estimates and assessments are magnified once the material has left the authority boundaries. Good material quality improves the carbon benefits of recycling whilst contamination reduces them, both in terms of reprocessing difficulty and reduced tonnage of the final product. Indicative analysis suggests that carbon offset value can be more than halved by contamination and direct carbon emissions can be doubled. Clearly authorities will need to make objective assessment of the quality of their material when it reaches the reprocessor in order to know the footprint. Knowledge of material destination will therefore become vital.
“We imagine there will be carbon differences between collection systems and we are interested to know these, but we also suspect that good management of whatever collection system toward quality will be a key factor, as was clear from WRAP work on paper quality in 2003.”
Phillip Ward, Director of Local Government Services at WRAP said: “We know a lot of local authorities are interested in understanding the carbon implications of their choices. Achieving carbon reductions through recycling is important to us and WRAP is committed to helping people make well informed choices about the full range of options.”
Lee Marshall, Chair of LARAC added: "LARAC would welcome any research that helps inform the decisions that local authorities make. The carbon footprint of a service is an important consideration that sits alongside others such as the suitability of the scheme for the local area, cost and local reprocessing opportunities, etc."
Information for Editors:
1. Information Sources on Recycling Carbon Implications Available to Authorities
At the moment there is a range of sources from which local authorities seem to be expected to pull together the technical information on which to base their choices as to how to deliver on carbon indicators. For recycling provision, the main sources are:
- WRAP LCA review 2006
- Defra studies for WS2007
- EEA technical reports
- WRAP report on CO2 impact of paper & plastics export 2008
- *GLA GHG balances study 2008
- individual collection system/processing audits (eg LB Camden)
- LCA tools, principally WRATE
2. The Campaign for Real Recycling wants central government and local authorities to act urgently to improve the quality of materials collected for recycling in the UK. Real recycling is about maximising the economic, environmental and social benefits of recycling for everyone, from the local council tax payer to the global re-processing industry. Our concern is that collection systems that gather a range of different materials in one bag or bin and then compact them could permanently undermine the environmental and financial benefits of recycling. Our campaign aims to influence local authority policy and practice, and build consensus within the UK of the economic and environmental importance of highly separated collections.
3. Campaign for Real Recycling supporters:
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