Recycling rates in the UK have come a long way in recent years and continue to grow year on year. For example, in the year 2000 only 13,000 tonnes of plastic bottles got recycled [1]; the UK now recycles over 350,000 tonnes a year
‘Recovered’ is a broader term than ‘recycling’ and refers to material that is not sent to landfil and is repurposed in some way, it includes recovering energy from waste (incineration). (BPF.CO.UK)
The total proportion of plastics being recycled varies by region around the world, with the EU coming third overall.
Countries use different sets of measures to report how much plastic they recycle, so it is not always straightforward to compare between the reported rate of each country. Plastic packaging recycling rates (a subset of all plastic) vary across Europe, with the UK coming in 7th overall.
Every plastic can be recycled… technically. But the extent to which they are recycled depends upon economic and logistical factors. The most widely recycled plastics are the two used to make soft drinks bottles and milk bottles: PET and HDPE. Traditional recycling is known as ‘mechanical recycling’. A technology known as ‘chemical recycling’ means mixed batches of all types of plastic can be recycled – even back into food-grade packaging. The application of this technology to recycle large amounts of plastic is relatively new and work is underway to scale it up.
The On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) provides information to consumers about whether a plastic product can be recycled. Retailers and brand owners are encouraged to use this help communicate with the public on what can and cannot be recycled. Sometimes this will require you to check whether that particular product is recycled locally, which is something you can do on the Recycle Now website.
Under the extended producer responsibility (EPR) system, the plastics industry pays money towards our recycling costs via what is known as a Packaging Recovery Note (PRN) — but the recycling industry feels this system needs reform. Packaging Recovery Notes and Packaging Export Recovery Notes (PERNs) are issued by recyclers and exporters as proof of recycling, which are bought directly from them (or via compliance schemes) by the supply chain.
There is no mandatory need to mark plastic in a way that signifies what polymer it is. However, to aid recycling, the BPF recommends that larger parts and packaging should be marked with an appropriate identification code. The BPF recommends the use of a coding system devised by the Plastics Industry Association as below. Moulded plastics items should be marked in accordance with ISO 11469:2016 where possible.