RECOUP Study Signals Notable Surge in Plastics Collection

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The U.K-based Recycling of Used Plastics Ltd. (RECOUP) - the national charity that develops plastics recycling announced its 2020 RECOUP U.K. Household Plastic Packaging Survey report. The survey points to increase in household plastics collection in the country.

According to the survey, the U.K. reported 2% surge in collected plastics from households. The volumes were up by 560,000 metric tons in 2019, upon comparison with 2018. However, the report says that actual recycling rates in the country continued to remain more or less stagnant, mainly due to significantly lower volumes of plastic film and flexible collected for recycling from households.

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All local authorities collected plastic bottles in curbside programs. Meantime, the number of authorities that collect plastic pots, tubs and trays increased to 85% in 2019. On the other hand, the number collecting films and flexible dropped to 14%.

The RECOUP report highlights several factors that may impact plastic collection and recycling in the near term. These include deposit return scheme planned for 2022 in Scotland and 2023 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, EPR legislation and plastic packaging tax in the UK by 2023.