LAWR

18 Local Authority Waste & Recycling April 2015 MAPPING THE MRF Kirk also explains that the increased rigour and frequency of monitoring has "led to the detection of more contamination in our incoming feedstock, which leads to an increase in contamination charges to the waste producer". He adds: "This allows us to highlight clearly to our client the quality of recyclates that can be achieved and the importance of acceptable and non- acceptable waste streams. This should lead to lower contamination levels in the commingled feed, better MRF operations and improved recyclate quality." In general, another advantage of the Code is that it allows MRF operators to directly compare the operational effi- ciencies and recyclate qualities of their counterparts. High quality recycling Bywaters states that it had already been carrying out sampling tests before the implementation of the Code. However, with the new CoP, Bywaters is now in a position to carry out more material sampling. A Bywaters spokesman says: "This should be seen as a positive opportunity to get better quality feedstock (i.e. low levels of contamination)." Although the firm has seen opportunities, it has acknowledged that challenges also exist. A spokesman says: "Explaining to customers why we are detecting contamination that used to 'slip through the net'. Other barriers include: "Improving the quality of collected material, this could well include some major changes to feedstock specifications – such as specifically excluding material we had previously accepted. An exact definition of 'high quality recycling' (the intention of the MRF CoP) is not given in the Regulations (nor in the revised Waste Framework Directive from which the concept came). Bywaters is using the Resource Association's standards for good quality recyclates (specified in terms of good quality materials suitable for supply to re-processors) – quite a high standard in terms of keeping contamination to a minimum." Essentially, the proof of the pudding Bywaters reclaims more than 90% of the recyclable materials that pass through its MRF is in the eating. The Environment Agency has yet to publish the first set of results. There will not be a formalised league table but it is certain that all qualifying MRFs will be comparing their reported results. As a Bywaters spokesman concludes: "If Bywaters is is in the eating. The Environment top of the 'league table', the challenge would be to stay there. If it is in the middle, the immediate objective would be to improve. If at the bottom (not a possibility) - it would be a fight to keep existing business." Watch this space! From 1 October 2014, MRFs processing more than 1,000 tonnes of mixed waste per annum have had to test the composition of samples of the material they put into the sorting process, and the useable output, and report them to the Environment Agency (for MRFs in England) or Natural Resources Wales (for MRFs in Wales).It is hoped that by providing 'robust' data on MRF inputs and outputs, the UK could improve recyclate quality. As LAWR went to press, the first results were due out. However, it will be too early to draw conclusions from the first set of data until the year is complete. Background Vehicles deliver commercial and municipal commingled wastes, either bagged or loose, to the off-loading area, where it is visually inspected. If approved, the wastes are loaded into the dosing bunker and from there through a bag-splitter before passing on to a conveyor belt to the first quality control cabin, where quality controllers remove unsuitable materials. The materials are then passed over an OCC [oversize cardboard and carton] screen that removes cardboard larger than A4. 'Polishing screens' are used to separate paper and card, which passes through a second quality control cabin. Magnets attract steel cans and eddy currents repel aluminium cans to separate these materials, and air conveyors send them to different silos. On the journey through the MRF, near infra-red detection is used to separate plastics into PET, HDPE and 'mixed plastics'. Once the key materials have been separated (paper, plastic, cans), they are baled and transported to reprocessors. How the system works

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