DS Smith Calls For Urgent Intervention in Tackling UK Paper Recycling Crisis

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): DS Smith called upon the government to take immediate action to address the recycling crisis in the country. The report published by the company, in partnership with Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London warns that the UK will fall short of its 2035 recycling targets by more than a decade.

According to the report, the country is currently witnessing rapid adoption of e-commerce, which in turn has led to generation of huge volumes of packaging. Furthermore, the number of parcels is estimated to grow by more than 50% over the next ten years. Unfortunately, the recycling infrastructure in the UK has not delivered proportionate growth so as to handle the phenomenal rise in packaging volumes. Alarmingly, the recycling rate for paper and cardboard packaging has reported a decline of 3.5% in 2018, the report said. Also, the total investment in the UK’s waste management system has dropped significantly by almost 10% during the past decade. The uncertainty surrounding Brexit is feared to add to these worries.

DS Smith calls for coordinated efforts from the government, industry and the general public to boost UK recycling rates. It recommends several actions including appointment of a dedicated recycling minister, strict implementation of statutory recycling targets, prioritization of waste separation, application of universal labeling and putting the circular economy at the heart of the Budget. Meantime, the company reiterated its commitment to make 100% of its packaging reusable or recyclable by 2025.