At IPL Brightgreen Recyclers, we understand that recent news about recycling can be discouraging, mainly when reports surface about waste being dumped or burned overseas. It’s frustrating to think that despite our collective efforts, recycling can sometimes have a negative environmental impact. This can lead to confusion and hopelessness about how best to contribute to a sustainable future.
However, there is good news: most of our recycling is processed correctly, and we are optimistic about the future of recycling. Let’s explore the recycling system and why there’s reason to be hopeful.
Why Recycling Matters
Recycling plastic gives materials a second life, keeping them in use and out of the environment. This process reduces the demand for new plastic made from raw materials, saving significant energy and reducing carbon emissions. It takes 75% less energy to create a plastic bottle from recycled materials than virgin plastic. Sometimes, plastic can be the most sustainable packaging choice, so removing it entirely from our lives isn’t always the best option for the environment.
In short, when reuse or refill options aren’t viable, recycling is the best solution for disposing of plastic. It prevents waste from ending up in landfills or being incinerated for energy.
Why Is Recycling Sent Overseas, and Is It Properly Recycled?
To improve our recycling system, it’s essential to understand where our recycling goes and how it’s tracked. Much of the UK’s plastic recycling is sent overseas, where it is processed into new products. Historically, foreign demand for UK recycling has been high due to lower processing costs abroad. However, countries like China have restricted the materials they accept to avoid contaminated or low-quality plastics.
The recycling industry is regulated, and strict rules exist to prevent illegal waste shipments abroad. Despite a few instances of non-compliance, the Environment Agency monitors these shipments, inspecting over 1,800 containers last year and penalising companies that broke the rules. While the system is imperfect, positive changes are being made to improve accountability.
How Is Plastic Recycling Tracked?
At IPL Brightgreen, we track recycling by measuring the amount of sorted plastic that enters recycling facilities. Although some material is lost during processing, such as plastic bottle labels, recycling companies report the weight of input materials as a measure of recycling.
Improving the tracking of recycling, especially abroad, remains a challenge. However, larger companies must provide data on how much plastic they produce, helping refine our estimates.
What’s Being Done to Improve the System?
To make recycling more efficient and responsible, several fundamental changes are underway:
- Investment in Domestic Recycling: Reducing reliance on overseas processing will make monitoring recycling easier and ensure it’s handled responsibly. This also benefits the UK economy.
- Plastics Tax: A tax will apply to packaging with less than 30% recycled content, encouraging manufacturers to use more recycled plastic and keeping prices stable.
- Extended Producer Responsibility: This policy ensures that businesses using plastic packaging are responsible for covering the cost of its recovery.
- Consistency in Collections: The UK will standardise recycling collections, making it easier for everyone to recycle the same types of plastic.
- Deposit Return Schemes: These initiatives will incentivise people to recycle, particularly items like plastic bottles, reducing litter and increasing recycling rates.
- Clear Recycling Labels: All packaging will soon have standardised recycling information, reducing confusion and contamination in the recycling stream.
At IPL Brightgreen Recyclers, we are committed to ensuring that the plastic you recycle gets a second life. We believe that with these improvements, the future of recycling is bright.
We are working with RECOUP, WRAP, and the EA to achieve our best in managing plastic waste. Not all news you hear is negative. Please be assured we do things right, and we do things legally!