Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Plastics News
  • Plastics News China
  • European Rubber Journal
SustainablePlasticsFINAL
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Recycling
    • Sustainability
    • Bioplastics
    • Technology & Materials
    • Unilever, Alibaba launch China’s first large-scale closed-loop plastic recycling system
      IneosStyrolution-Antwerp-main_i.jpg
      EU provides funding for sustainable ABS project
      Sabic and Plastic Energy to start construction on new commercial-scale recycling unit
      Itero to build plastic waste recycling plant at Brightlands Chemelot Campus
    • Vinyl organisations in US, Australia sign MOU to explore sustainability programme reciprocity
      IneosStyrolution-Antwerp-main_i.jpg
      EU provides funding for sustainable ABS project
      Huhtamaki welcomes LCA results on environmental impact of single-use packaging
      Flexible packaging industry seeks stronger alignment with circular economy ambitions
    • Covestro adds its bio-TPUs to Desmopan product range
      Yield10 Bioscience announces milestone achievement with plant-made PHA
      Novamont advances vertical integration growth strategy with acquisition BioBag
      British researchers make sustainable polymer from sugars in wood
    • Injection Moulding
    • Blow Moulding
    • Extrusion
    • Thermoforming
    • 3D printing
    • Technology
    • Materials
    • Machinery
  • Opinion
    • View Point
    • A year to remember
      Opinion: California introduces world’s toughest plastic bottle recycling legislature – will other markets follow?
      Opinion: What to expect from plastic that protects our kids
      Legislation is catching up with our Lifestyle goals
  • Events
    • Our Exhibitions
    • Plastics Industry Awards (PIA)
    • Ask the Expert
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
    • Plastics News Europe Live Archives
    • Plastics Recycling Show Europe
  • Prices & Resources
    • Polymer Prices
    • Data Reports
    • White Papers
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Media Pack
  • Subscribe
    • Magazine
    • Newsletters
    • List Rental
  • Digital magazine
    • Digital Magazine
  • Multimedia
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
September 12, 2012 07:00 AM

Export markets important to UK recycling, says ESA

Anthony Clark
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has published a briefing note that shows how the export of UK-collected recycling to overseas reprocessors has helped the UK achieve a near quadrupling of recycling rates in a decade.

    Launching ‘Overseas options: the importance of exports to UK recycling' the ESA's director of policy, Matthew Farrow, said: “Householders, councils and waste management companies have worked hard in the last ten years to boost recycling – three times as much dry recyclable material is now collected each year compared to 2000.

    “Exporting some of this material for reprocessing elsewhere has enabled the amount we recycle to grow well beyond the size of the UK's reprocessing sector, which does not have the capacity today to take all the material collected.

    However, Paul Levett, chairman of the non-executive advisory committee at Closed Loop Recycling, sounded a note of caution. "Investors in UK reprocessing need to have confidence that input materials will be available to feed their plants,” he said.

    “Availability can sometimes be affected by illegal exports of poorly sorted materials to countries which have no landfill tax and/or poor working conditions for low paid sorters. 

    “UK reprocessors, like Closed Loop Recycling, have no problems in competing for material with compliant exporters and we would encourage the government to persist with its plans for a quality code of practice for MRFs and greater enforcement of the TFS regulations (Shipment of Waste Regulations 1994 No.1137)."

    Farrow countered these comments, adding: “Where criminals try to export ‘raw', hazardous or unsorted waste we expect tough enforcement action. One of the reasons we have developed the MRF Code of Practice is to help the authorities target this sort of illegal activity.”

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Sustainable Plastics' news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Reserve your subscription today

    Subscriptions to Sustainable Plastics, the leading Pan-European magazine for the circular plastics industry are coming soon.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

    "In a changing world, Sustainable Plastics is a constant: a platform the plastics industry can rely on to deliver the news and knowhow impacting the industry going forward”

    SustainablePlasticsFINAL
    Contact Us

    11 Ironmonger Lane, EC2V 8EY
    United Kingdom 
    Tel: +44 (0)1622 370570

    Customer Service:
    1-313-446-0450

    [email protected]

     

    Resources
    • Advertise
    • Sitemap
    • Careers
    • Subscribe
    Affiliates
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • LSR World
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Tire Business
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • Automotive News
    • Automotive News Europe
    • Crain Publications
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Recycling
      • Sustainability
      • Bioplastics
      • Technology & Materials
        • Injection Moulding
        • Blow Moulding
        • Extrusion
        • Thermoforming
        • 3D printing
        • Technology
        • Materials
        • Machinery
    • Opinion
      • View Point
    • Events
      • Our Exhibitions
        • Plastics Recycling Show Europe
      • Plastics Industry Awards (PIA)
      • Ask the Expert
      • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
      • Plastics News Europe Live Archives
    • Prices & Resources
      • Polymer Prices
      • Data Reports
      • White Papers
    • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Media Pack
    • Subscribe
      • Magazine
      • Newsletters
      • List Rental
    • Digital magazine
      • Digital Magazine
    • Multimedia