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A Call to Improve Kerbside Plastic Bottle Collection

27/02/2012 By Peter Brooks

Leading authority on plastics waste management and recycling, Recoup, has called for improved kerbside infrastructure to deal with increasing plastic bottle recycling rates. In a 2009 report commissioned by the group it highlighted an “encouraging increase in the bottle recycling rate with almost 40% of plastic bottles now being collected for recycling.

However there is cause for caution as survey responses suggest that kerbside schemes could see increases in volume rising to 194,000 tonnes of bottles by the end of this year. This represents an additional 25,000 tonnes.

To deal with a projected 10% annual increase in collections it is important that the kerbside collection infrastructure adapt to meet the challenge. In no uncertain terms Recoup has described meeting this challenge as “key to boosting existing recycling rates and achieving the step change desired.

Kerbside collections account for 82% of all the plastic bottles recycled in the UK and is a service provided by 360 of the UK’s 401 local authorities. There is still room for improvement though with the Recoup report pointing out that 60% of plastic bottles still end up in landfill; a figure that is still far too high.

It’s clear that there is still a long way to go by European standards with 55% of all municipal waste in the UK being sent to landfill, compared to an EU average of just 40%. The annual residual waste per person is dropping significantly though (down 76kg to 275kg on 2006/7 figures) but it’s important that UK industry and businesses takes a lead in supporting the infrastructure to allow these positive trends to continue.

We here at Office Water Coolers are fully committed to the environmental principles of carbon neutrality and recycling, encouraging localism to reduce fuel costs within our business. We actively obtain ratified UN certified carbon credits that help developing countries, whilst offsetting our carbon footprint.

Amongst many other things we have offered a free cup collection and recycling service since 2001 and we work closely with the Carbon Clear Group and the Carbon Trust.

For more details on our commitments to the environment click here.



© 2012 Office Water Coolers

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