LAWR

Back in February the Government unveiled the long-awaited material recovery facility (MRF) Regulations, also known as the Code of Practice (CoP). Part of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, the MRF Regulations are applicable from the start of this month. The law requires operators of MRFs processing more than 1,000 tonnes per annum to test the composition of samples of the material they put into the sorting process, and the useable output. It is hoped that the regulations will increase recyclate quality from MRFs to "help stimulate the market conditions necessary to improve the quality of the material produced by MRFs so that it can be more readily recycled", as required under the European revised Waste Framework Directive. According the Resource Association, the trade body for the reprocessing and recycling industries and their supply chain, contamination at MRFs costs the UK £51m a year. Under the regulations, MRF operators must take samples of the mixed waste material received at their facility from each supplier during each reporting period (except where that material is to be transferred to another materials facility for the purpose of separating it into specified output material), and measure the composition of those samples. All reports must be submitted online. In light of the new regulations coming into force this month, LAWR analyses what the whole supply chain should be doing to make sure they are prepared for the Code of Practice. LAWR also looks at the impact of this new rule on local authorities (a key player in determining the feedstocks reaching MRFs). Elsewhere, Axion Consulting director Keith Freegard explores the advantages and flaws of the sampling and reporting obligations. In addition to this, LAWR takes a peek at how Casepak's MRF in Leicester is preparing for the new regulations and its quest to raise the level of quality outputs. Overall, the regulations should bring about full transparency and all parties will be able, for the first time, to evaluate different MRF operator's performance. As a consequence, this will make it harder for rogue MRFs to neglect quality and undercut responsible operators. This is turn will surely add confidence to compliant MRFs that are supporting the move towards a circular economy. LOCAL AUTHORITY WASTE & RECYCLING LAWR SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT OCTOBER 2014 MAPPING THE MRF The new MRF Regulations aim to create market transparency and improve quality.

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