A guide to help plastics recyclers achieve top materials prices by maximising transport efficiency has been launched by plastics recycling advisors Recoup. The publication is named Domestic Mixed Plastics Packaging – Recycling Guide. It sets out specifications to identify which plastics can currently be recycled and suggest ways to minimise contamination.
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The guidelines are aimed at collectors and handlers, with the intention of providing a coordinated and consistent specification for those already collecting a range of plastics packaging from households, and providing good practice indicators for others looking to develop mixed plastics packaging recycling systems.
As the paper says, mixed plastic packaging should not be collected for recycling without a definite and sustainable end market identified in advance. Local Authorities who are collecting mixed plastics should have a full audit trail in place, including details of the waste management company, broker, end reprocessor and end application for the recycled plastics.
The key is to ensure a rational and practical approach, collecting only materials which can be sorted and have sustainable and auditable market outlets. It is important to consider the impact of collecting mixed plastics packaging on the output quality of other sorted materials such as newspapers and magazines, cardboard and steel and aluminium cans.
The addition of mixed plastics into an existing 'plastic bottle' material grade will significantly reduce the overall sales value, but at the same time the tonnage collected will increase. It is not specified in these guidelines whether collectors should mix the bottles and other rigid plastic packaging together. However, the end markets for non bottle packaging plastics are more limited at the current time with consequent commercial implications.
More information under recoup.org.
Quelle: Recoup
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