LAWR

PACKAGING RECYCLING Packaging recycling gets helping hand from councils Eric Collins, managing director of Nampak Plastics, looks at how local authorities and leading organisations across the UK are encouraging packaging recycling. ast year, a new initiative was set up by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) involving a series of regional workshops for local authorities to help boost public engagement in packaging recycling. The first event was hosted by Coca Cola Enterprises who were working with WRAP, along with Sainsbury's, LARAC and the Local Government Association to deliver the initiative. The workshops are for local authority officers and their contractors, and will explore cost effective ways of using communications to increase public participation in recycling, including suggestions on working with brands and retailers to engage the public and using social media. WRAP head of community partnerships Louise Bowe says: "Communication so householders have know-how and motivation to use services fully is essential but we recognise budgets for communications these days are tighter than ever for us all." Indeed, with revised packaging targets being a key element of the Waste Review in England, local authorities need to be doing as much as they can to engage the public in packaging recycling. Packaging is what people notice most in their bins, and now more than ever, we need to be helping householders use their local service and understand what happens to the materials. The UK recycled 60.7% and recovered 67% of its packaging waste in 2010. In 1998, these figures were 27% and 30% respectively. This increase is a significant achievement, and figures from 2013 look set to deliver even better results. However, there is still a perception amongst both householders and local authorities that more needs to be done by the companies producing packaging. There are strong arguments that higher recycling targets on packaging producers would help increase the amount of packaging that is recycled. So, whilst local authorities focus on encouraging end of life recycling, packaging manufacturers must play their part and consider resource-saving and ease of recycling at the design stage. At Nampak Plastics, we take our role as the UK's leading producer of plastic milk bottles very seriously. Following a four-year design process, our innovations and engineering team has created the multi-award-winning Infini bottle which is the lightest and strongest plastic milk bottle on the market. Because of Infini's unique design – with the handle on the corner – we have been able to move up to 30% recycled high density polyethylene - double that of any other plastic milk bottle. This move, combined with others, will result in 35,000 tonnes of material saved every year and will also herald significant carbon savings across the industry. The need for packaging companies to continue to achieve new heights in sustainability and recyclability will only increase from now, into the future. Consumers, local authorities and the industry in general, will demand lighter weight and more environmentally-friendly solutions. For those reasons, we at Nampak will continue to push boundaries as far as we can and we'd urge our colleagues in the sector to do exactly the same. L February 2014 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 19 • Fast, efficient loading & unloading of trailers by fork truck • Rent or buy, on sale or return direct from the manufacturer • 6,000 kg to 15,000 kg capacities available • Solidly built to withstand rigours of tough working environments • Fully compliant with all EU quality & safety standards • Bespoke models also available www.thorworld.co.uk T: 01246 260981 F: 01246 260493 E: info@thorworld.co.uk LOADING RAMPS FOR RECYCLING & WASTE NO DEDICATED LOADING BAY? THORWORLD MOBILE YARDRAMPS OFFER THE IDEAL SOLUTION. FM 14696 ® SUPPORT BRITISH MANUFACTURING The market leading supplier of loading ramps to the recycling & waste management industry. Call now for our latest product range brochure. ®

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