The UK plastic sector has launched a co-operative strategy for the plastic packaging supply chain to reach recycling targets.
The Plastics Industry Recycling Action Plan (PIRAP) was launched today by Plastics 2020 – featuring the BPF, PAFA and Plastics Europe and WRAP.
PIRAP was initiated by WRAP through consultation with all stakeholders, including national and local government, the waste management industry, obligated users, producers, converters and recyclers. Plastics 2020 then adopted the task of engaging with the different stakeholders to agree on different actions for commitment.
Major players in the sector involved in the new initiative include BPI, Coca Cola Enterprises, RPC Group, Jayplas, Recoup and Veolia.
PIRAP highlights a number of areas where improvements could be made to develop end markets for plastics recyclate, enhance collection rates, adopt best-in-class collection methods, optimise sorting infrastructure and design.
It suggests that central government must work to ensure that regulatory environment is correctly adjusted and that any regulatory drivers that hinder achievement of the PIRAP are dealt with.
As local authorities are responsible for facilitating the collection of end of life plastics packaging from households, the initiative says that successful implementation of the PIRAP will require funding to be identified that enables local authorities to revitalise and extend existing collections.
And the waste management sector must recognise its important role, highlighted by the new MRF Regulations to deliver a rapidly improving quality of sorted plastic raw materials to the plastics reprocessing sector.
Philip Law, director general of BPF, said: “It’s a great achievement to secure an agreed document in an area which has become a political football. Plastics packaging recycling levels are a function of so many factors and the support of a very large number of organisations has to be harnessed to make significant progress.”
Kim Christiansen, Regional Director North PlasticsEurope, said reaching the 2017 plastics recycling targets could ttransform the UK to one of the top performing member states in Europe.
Barry Turner, chief executive of PAFA, added: “I am pleased to see that so many stakeholders have come forward this looks promising for the next steps which need to focus on actions to support the achievement of these challenging targets”.
Claire Shrewsbury, packaging programme manager, WRAP, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Plastics Recycling Industry Action Plan launch with a wide range of supporters already signed up. To realise the full benefits of plastics recycling, and achieve the targets, the whole supply chain must work together to achieve a common outcome. The plan will drive this kind of collaboration and strengthen links across the entire plastics supply chain, ensuring more valuable plastic is recycled into second life applications.”
