Chloe Zhang
Plastic film is a significant component of household waste in the UK, with approximately 1.1 million tonnes consumed annually, constituting 44% of all plastic packaging. While nearly all types of plastics can be recycled, the extent of recycling depends on technical, economic, and logistical factors. Plastic films, in particular, pose challenges due to their costly processing requirements. However, some local councils and supermarkets collect plastic bags and films for recycling, and chemical recycling technologies can convert mixed plastics into oil for reuse.
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What You'll Learn
Plastic film recycling in the UK
Plastic film is consumed in large quantities in the UK, with approximately 1.1 million tonnes used each year. This constitutes around 44% of all plastic packaging. Despite various initiatives, plastic film remains a significant component of household residual waste, with only a small fraction being captured for recycling. However, the UK's recycling rates have been improving year on year, and nearly all types of plastics can be recycled.
While plastic bottles are the most commonly collected packaging type due to their ease of sorting and recycling, some local authorities and borough councils also collect plastic bags and film. These include carrier bag collection points in large supermarkets, where items like plastic bags, cereal bags, bread bags, and plastic wrap can be recycled. However, it is important to check the packaging to determine if these items can be recycled.
The UK Plastics Pact, signed by over 40 companies, demonstrates a commitment to rethinking plastic usage and reducing its environmental impact. Additionally, the government has considered banning plastic straws and cotton buds and introducing a deposit system for drinks bottles and cans. These efforts align with the UN plan to prevent plastic waste from entering the oceans, which was committed to by 193 countries in December 2017.
While the UK still needs to develop its chemical recycling capacity, chemical recycling technologies can convert mixed batches of plastics, including plastic films, back into oil, which can then be repurposed into plastic. This process holds potential for the recycling of plastic films, which are challenging to sort mechanically and are often shipped abroad for recycling due to the required technology not being readily available in the UK.
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Plastic film collection points
Plastic film is consumed in large quantities in the UK, with approximately 1.1 million tonnes being used annually. This constitutes around 44% of all plastic packaging. Despite this, plastic film is not widely recycled, with a 2017 Plasflow study finding it to be one of the largest untapped sources of recyclable plastic.
While nearly all types of plastic can be recycled in theory, the extent of this depends on technical, economic, and logistical factors. Plastic film, in particular, is difficult to recycle, and very few facilities in the UK can process it.
Some supermarkets, such as Tesco and Sainsbury's, have introduced in-store soft plastic collection points. However, these schemes have been criticised by campaigners, who claim that the majority of the soft plastic collected is incinerated rather than recycled.
If you want to recycle plastic film, you can use online tools, such as the Recycling Locator, to find your nearest recycling locations and what types of plastic they accept. Some local authorities in the UK offer kerbside recycling schemes, and larger supermarkets may have recycling banks for certain types of plastic film.
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Plastic film recycling challenges
Plastic film is a significant component of household waste in the UK, with approximately 1.1 million tonnes consumed annually, constituting 44% of all plastic packaging. Despite various initiatives, plastic film remains a highly visible component of household waste, with only a small fraction captured for recycling. This highlights the challenges associated with sorting and recycling plastic film.
One of the primary challenges is the lack of standardised collection and recycling systems across the UK. While some district and borough councils collect plastic bags and film, others do not, resulting in inconsistent recycling rates. Additionally, plastic film cannot be easily sorted mechanically, making it costly to process. This is due to the diverse range of polymers used in plastic film production, requiring specialised technology that may not be readily available in all regions.
Another challenge is the low level of public awareness regarding plastic film recycling. Many individuals are unsure about which types of plastic film can be recycled and how to properly recycle them. This results in contamination of the recycling stream, as non-recyclable plastic film is mixed with other recyclables, hindering the overall recycling process.
Furthermore, the UK's recycling infrastructure faces economic and logistical constraints. The development and implementation of chemical recycling technologies, capable of processing mixed plastics, require significant investment. While these technologies can convert plastic films back into oil, the UK's chemical recycling capacity is still in its nascent stages and needs further development to operate on an industrial scale.
To address these challenges, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. Standardising collection systems, investing in specialised recycling technologies, and raising public awareness through educational campaigns can collectively improve plastic film recycling rates. Additionally, exploring alternative packaging materials and reducing plastic film usage can help mitigate the environmental impact of this challenging waste stream.
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Plastic film recycling technologies
Plastic film is typically manufactured from either polypropylene or polyethylene. If recycled correctly, it can be a highly profitable material. However, recycling plastic film can be complex, as it is a low-bulk-density material that is lightweight and has a large surface area. This makes it difficult to wash and dry, and it is also susceptible to getting wrapped around plastic washing machinery.
To recycle plastic film, it is first sorted into streams and then cleaned and baled. Most of this waste is then sent to a specialist company to be turned into pellets, which are then made into new plastic film products. The remaining waste is fed into a biodigester, which turns it into a solid fuel replacement (SFR) called FLOC. FLOC is burnt by local power stations to generate heat and energy.
There are several plastic film recycling technologies available. Rotajet Systems offers a plastic film recycling line that includes a shredder for initial size reduction of the material, a high-performance friction washer to remove contaminants, and a sink float to separate the plastic film from contaminants such as dust and sand. Berry Circular Polymers, one of the largest specialist plastic recyclers in the UK, operates a range of leading-edge recycling technologies, including sorting, size reduction, washing, compounding, and decontamination. JWitt Waste Recycling provides plastic film recycling services through regular wheelie bin collections, with sizes ranging from 240l to 1100l.
There are also several programs and initiatives in place to facilitate plastic film recycling. The Flexible Film Recycling Alliance (FFRA) manages the Plastic Film Recycling Directory, which provides information on where and how to recycle flexible films. Store Drop-off recycling is a retailer-sponsored program that collects plastic bags and other flexible plastic packaging in stores. The Hefty ReNew™ program, available in select municipalities, allows consumers to recycle alternative plastics curbside.
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Plastic film recycling rates
Plastic film is a significant component of household waste in the UK, with approximately 1.1 million tonnes consumed annually, constituting about 44% of all plastic packaging. Despite various initiatives, the recycling rate for plastic film remains low. Only 19% of local authorities out of 391 collect plastic film for recycling, and it is often not accepted in kerbside recycling schemes due to the high costs of processing.
The low recycling rate of plastic film is attributed to several challenges. Firstly, it is difficult to sort mechanically, making it costly to process. Secondly, it often needs to be separated from other plastics to be recycled effectively, as different types of plastics melt at different temperatures. As a result, many local authorities focus on recycling plastic bottles, which are in high demand by manufacturers.
To improve the recycling rate of plastic film, some supermarkets offer in-store collections for 'post-consumer' film, and a few councils provide kerbside collections. Additionally, chemical recycling technologies can convert mixed batches of plastics, including plastic films, back into oil, which can then be reused to create new plastic products. However, the UK's chemical recycling capacity is still in the development stage and requires further investment.
The UK has made progress in recycling other types of plastics. Nearly all councils provide plastic recycling collections, and the amount collected and recycled has increased annually for the last 25 years. This recycled plastic is typically separated into different polymer types, shredded, melted back into polymer pellets, and then sold to create new products.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic film is recyclable, but it is not easy to do so. Only 19% of local authorities in the UK offer a collection service for plastic film. It is costly to process because it is difficult to sort mechanically. However, some large supermarkets have carrier bag collection points that accept plastic film.
The UK consumes around 1.1 million tonnes of plastic film each year, which is approximately 44% of all plastic packaging.
Products made from recycled plastic film include refuse sacks, damp-proof membranes, fencing, and garden furniture.
Once collected, plastic is sent to a recycling centre where it is separated into different polymer types. These are then shredded, and any impurities are removed. The plastic is then melted back into polymer pellets, which are sold to be used in new products.
Nearly all types of plastic can be recycled, but the extent of recycling depends on technical, economic, and logistical factors. Plastic bottles are the most commonly collected packaging type in the UK.
