Tuesday 25th June 2007
Material Quality Confirmed as a Global Issue
The Campaign for Real Recycling welcomes the emphasis on quality that was the key message at WRAP’s seminar on international markets last week. A series of reports produced by WRAP all reached the same conclusion: that quality is an essential factor in sustainable long-term markets. Other speakers, including a representative of those exporting UK material to China, stressed the need for quality to ensure future markets.
The reports support the CRR’s view that more emphasis is needed on all recyclate quality for all markets and this has implications for the domestic collection and reprocessing methodologies used.
Chris White of Paperchain said: “UK recyclate consumers certainly need high quality material, especially if further investment in plant is to be justified. To hear first hand that Chinese export markets have the same quality needs as the UK reprocessors (and in some cases their specifications are higher than the UK) should explode the age old myth that the Far East will take it no matter what the quality. Proper recycling is needed to achieve proper markets.”
Mal Williams of Cylch said: “If quality is going to be a crunch issue for export as well as domestic consumption, what excuse can there now be for not collecting materials with end quality the top consideration? Indeed we believe this adds weight to the argument for materials to be collected separately at the kerbside, wherever possible, keeping them clean from the householder onwards. Defra and WRAP should advise local authorities and other collection agencies appropriately and we would welcome the opportunity to work with WRAP and other stakeholders to develop the proposed Centre for Export Expertise.”
Andy Moore, CRR coordinator, added: “It was heartening to hear the Environment Agency talking about checking quality outputs at MRFs and its implied confidence in implementing the EU Waste Shipments Regulations. However the resource implications of this are clearly considerable. Mr Bradshaw has indicated that the Agency can expect increased funding next year for this work. We call for a proper assessment of the additional capacity required and proportionate consideration to the resources allocated.”
ends
Notes for Editors:
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.
CRR Website: www.realrecycling.org.uk
Campaign for Real Recycling supporters:
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