RECOUP: Plastic Packaging Collection for Recycling Surged 4% in 2020

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): RECOUP- the member-based plastics recycling organization has published results of 2021 UK Household Plastics Collection Survey. The survey, after assessment of the performance of plastic recycling in the UK, signals crunch time for plastic packaging recycling.

According to the survey, around 584,000 tonnes of household plastic packaging was collected for recycling in 2020. The collection recorded surge by 4%, when compared to quantities collected in 2019. The positive performance is despite challenges posed by Covid-19 pandemic and UK’s exit of the European Union. To be in line with UK target of 70%, the region should have collected around 990,000 tonnes.

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The survey noted that 75% of PET drinks bottles and 78% of natural HDPE milk bottles were collected for recycling. The collection rates for non-drinks bottles stood at 45%, whereas it was 36% for plastic pots, tubs and trays, and 4% for plastic film. The overall collection rate for household plastic packaging stood at 41%.

Steve Morgan, Head of Policy and Infrastructure at RECOUP stated that it is a crunch time not only for decision-makers but also for the industry to ensure that the high-impact policies are implemented in time in the most effective manner so as to meet the UK’s environmental goals.