The tough problem of plastics

Just 7% of the two million tonnes of plastics waste created each year in the UK is recycled, experts estimate.

Most councils focus on plastic bottles because they are made from one of three plastics types - out of more than 50 - and are very easily identified. A total of 60% of local authorities now offer kerbside collections for plastic bottles, which means 13.9m households get their plastics picked up.

Difficulties surrounding plastics recycling include their high volume to weight, making collection and transportation difficult and expensive. There are also often high levels of contamination in plastic, which make the recycled plastics less useable, especially where food products are involved.

View Full Article 12^th July 2007

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