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The growth in plastics recycling can play a key role in driving
the green economy, according to a new report published by
WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).
The latest market situation report on plastics identifies
the key developments in the UK markets for recovered plastic
since 2007 and tracks trends in collections, existing and
planned domestic reprocessing capacity, export markets, prices
and legislative issues.
The report reveals increased UK demand for food-grade recovered
polymers - and, in some cases, demand is outstripping supply.
This is a market opportunity which could support greater investment
in UK reprocessing infrastructure. WRAP has already helped
to demonstrate the technology for producing recycled food-grade
polymers and is able to provide further support for investors
through its Accelerating Growth Fund.
Attention is increasingly turning to the recycling of non-bottle
household plastic packaging (popularly known as 'mixed
plastics'). With the first WRAP funded mixed
plastics reprocessing facility opening in 2011, the trend
to recycle more plastics seems set to continue. WRAP
recently launched the Mixed
Plastics Loan Facility will provide
further growth in the industry.
There could be significant economic benefits from increased
recycling of mixed plastics in the UK. Previous WRAP
research has suggested that the recovered plastics market
has a potential value of £250 - £500 million. Coupled with
this are benefits in terms of new ‘green’ jobs.
Marcus Gover, Director of Market Development said - “WRAP’s
report shows that the overall picture for plastics is positive.
Despite the volatility in prices of the past two years, the
market is strong.
“There has been extensive investment in UK plastics reprocessing
capacity - however, the UK still exports a large proportion
of the plastics it collects for recycling. Given the strong
UK demand for high quality recycled plastics, this represents
a great opportunity for UK manufacturers to exploit this green
niche.”
WRAP’s market situation report also identifies further key
themes from the plastics recycling sector -
- The plastic bottle recycling rate now stands at over 40%
and there has been extensive investment in UK plastic bottle
processing capacity over the past two years;
- Attention has now turned to collecting and developing
infrastructure to recycle mixed packaging plastics, less
than 5% of which is currently recycled. Around 20% of local
authorities already operate kerbside mixed plastic collections
and 2011 will see the operation of the UK’s first mixed
plastic reprocessing facility;
- Recycling of non-packaging plastics has also increased
- this is partly as a result of regulatory factors. However,
a further driver for market development was the launch of
the Non-Packaging
Plastics Quality Protocol.
For further information and to download a copy of the full
report - Click
Here
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