A new edition of the British Plastics Federation’s Recycling Roadmap has been published, which presents the latest UK data for plastic recycling and forecasts of what can be achieved over the next ten years.
The report, produced in collaboration with RECOUP, also identifies key areas that need to change for this to happen.
The document notes that nearly four years after the first edition was published, many of the required changes first mentioned in 2021 still have not happened. This is due to delays in implementing policies as well as challenging economic circumstances.
Achieving a recycling rate of 69% by 2030 (as outlined in the first edition) will take longer, it argues, and still requires ‘urgent collective action’ from the government and industry, as well as support from the public.
The new edition highlights the need for more government support to increase investment in recycling infrastructure.
The forecast highlights that the amount of material chemically recycled within the UK by 2030 is 200kT lower than the first roadmap indicated, although the document notes that 400kT of chemically recycled material is possible by 2035, if certain obstacles are overcome, such as the need to clarify whether mass balance methodology is acceptable within the scope of Plastic Packaging Tax.
The forecast emphasises a lot can still be achieved within a decade. A 70% reuse and recycling rate can be achieved by 2035, with an extra 23% of total plastic waste being mechanically recycled within the UK and an extra 6% being chemically recycled. By then, 15% less plastic could be sent to energy recovery facilities and 13% of the UK’s total plastic waste could be reused.
BPF sustainability manager Helen Jordan said, “The forecasts within the new BPF Recycling Roadmap present milestones that are achievable but also deliberately ambitious. The UK could be a leading nation when it comes to the sound management of plastic waste if there is a step change in how we perceive plastic items that have reached the end of their first life.
“We call upon the government to help the UK achieve its true potential as an environmentally conscientious nation with optimised waste management practices. We could recycle so much more plastic waste within the UK if improvements to existing systems and legislation create the right atmosphere to increase investment.”
RECOUP’s sustainability & circularity manager Irina Ankudinova added, “The BPF Recycling Roadmap provides a systemic overview of plastic recycling, highlighting opportunities and challenges in maximising plastic material circularity in the UK. The roadmap demonstrates the potential to achieve an ambitious future vision, while also drawing attention to the potential negative consequences of inaction.
“We view the roadmap as a valuable tool for promoting collaboration between the government, businesses, and citizens to achieve a plastic recycling system that we all can be proud of.”
The BPF Recycling Roadmap is available to download for free at: bpf.co.uk/roadmap
