PRESS RELEASE 9 May 2024
SIMPLER RECYCLING MUST NOT LEAD TO POOR QUALITY MATERIAL
The Recycling Association has said local authorities must ensure they maintain or improve quality as a result of Simpler Recycling.
With the Government confirming that Simpler Recycling will be rolled out in England for households from 31 March 2026, The Recycling Association has also welcomed that this policy now seems to be moving forwards.
The Recycling Association chief executive Paul Sanderson said: "I've been saying for a while that we need to get on with introducing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Simpler Recycling and we are now getting the certainty that this policy is moving forward with clear deadlines for its introduction.
"Whoever wins the upcoming General Election should keep the framework of these policies in place so our Members and other stakeholders in the value chain can prepare for their introduction.
"While it is good that all local authorities in England will collect the same core materials of paper and card, plastic, metal and glass, I ask them to consider the impact on quality from any changes they make to their household collections.
"To enable access to markets as part of a global circular economy, and to create circular products from these materials, we need to ensure that they are collected and sorted to maximise quality with minimal contamination.
"Although we welcome EPR and Simpler Recycling, I'm increasingly concerned that the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme is a material grab by producers of plastic bottles and metal cans at the expense of recyclers and councils.
"This element of the new regulation roll-out should be looked at again so that a Digital DRS can be used where householders and those producing household-like material can put it in existing collection schemes. I understand trials of these have shown good potential, and this would be a more effective and less costly exercise that rolling out reverse vending machines at supermarkets."
Contact Paul Sanderson on 07970 549536 or emailpaul.sanderson@therecyclingassociation.comfor more information.