Government watchdog call to extend plastics recycling




Mixed plastic items such as salad bags and yoghurt pots can be recycled cost effectively, the government's waste watchdog has said. The Waste Recycling and Action Programme (Wrap) has published research it says proves for the first time the efficiency of this type of recycling.

They say recycling these types of materials would save £200m every year in landfill taxes and manufacturing. Wrap has called for investment in the appropriate recycling facilities.

Until now many councils have concentrated on certain types of plastic - accepting bottles but shunning other items because of the way they are made. Currently, plastic packaging is made from mixed materials - such as cling film, ready meal cartons and yoghurt pots - that are left behind after all other recyclable household waste has been dealt with.

View Full Article 5th June 2008

Related Recycling Articles

  • Plastics recycling collections coming soon to Shropshire (25th June 2009)
  • ... more >

  • Tesco cuts ClubCard points for recycling (10th March 2009)
  • Tesco has stopped giving Clubcard points for materials such as glass and plastic collected by its recycling machines after 'misuse' of their system. Tesco said people were cutting up items such as plastic bottles in order to get more green ClubCard points for recycling Previously mos... more >

  • Call to recycle food waste separately (22nd November 2008)
  • All households in England and Wales should be required to put food scraps in a separate bin to reduce landfill, says the Local Government Association. Figures obtained by the Daily Telegraph showed 113 councils, out of the 434 in the UK who dispose of rubbish, already collect food waste se... more >

  • Public support for food waste collections says WRAP (19th September 2008)
  • WRAP today confirmed that food waste collections are proving popular among households and that a number of local authorities are turning trials into permanent collection schemes. In a report today, WRAP - the Waste and Resources Action Programme - said that the trials of offering separate ... more >

  • "It's a wrap": after 31 days without plastic. (1st September 2008)
  • After 31 days of trying to live without any new plastic, Christine Jeavans reflects on the highs and lows, and lessons she has learned. Her aim was to try to live for a month without buying anything new made from plastic or wrapped in plastic. She was able to keep and use the plastic s... more >

    Recycling Tips

    Reduce packaging waste e.g. buy loose apples rather than those wrapped in plastic on a polystyrene tray.

    more tips...

    Recycling Tips

    Did You Know?

    Making glass bottles and jars from recycled ones saves energy. The energy saving from recycling one bottle will power a washing machine for 10 minutes.

    more facts...

    Did You Know? Recycling Facts