Maya Ellison
Recycled plastic packaging is an important part of the global effort to reduce waste and improve sustainability. The process involves collecting, sorting, cleaning, and reprocessing plastic waste to create new packaging or other products. Various organisations and governments are actively encouraging the recycling of plastic packaging, with some implementing taxes on certain types of packaging to incentivise the use of recycled materials. Recycled plastics are used to create a wide range of items, from packaging and bags to car components, furniture, and building materials. While there are challenges and concerns with using recycled plastics, such as cosmetic imperfections and odour, the advantages of a circular economy and reduced environmental impact make recycled plastic packaging a crucial component of sustainable practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic packaging recycled in the UK in 2016 | 45% (1,015,000 tonnes) |
| Ranking of the UK in plastic packaging recycling among 30 EU countries | 7th |
| Ranking of the UK in overall plastic recycling among 30 EU countries | 10th |
| Ranking of the UK in commercial and industrial packaging recycling | 2nd |
| Percentage of local authorities in the UK offering kerbside recycling schemes for plastic bottles | 99% |
| Percentage of local authorities in the UK that also recycle plastic pots, tubs, and trays | 79% |
| Plastic packaging components containing 30% or more recycled plastic | Not chargeable for Plastic Packaging Tax |
| Plastic Packaging Tax chargeable for | Each individual finished packaging component |
| Plastic defined for the purposes of Plastic Packaging Tax | A polymer material to which additives or substances may have been added |
| Examples of additives | Calcium or dyes |
| Plastic packaging tax exemption requirement | Evidence that recycled material has been used |
| Recycled plastic | Comes from plastic waste that has been reprocessed from pre-consumer plastic or post-consumer plastic by using a chemical or mechanical manufacturing process |
| Recycled plastic use cases | Packaging, bags, car components, furniture, building materials, paint pots, and even kerbstones |
| Recycled plastic bottles and jars | Form an integral part of the circular economy |
| Percentage of PET bottles and containers that entered the European market in 2016 and were mechanically recycled | 59.8% |
| Recycled plastic concern | The stability of the raw material and the tightness of the specifications which can lead to cosmetic imperfections |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic packaging recycling rates
Ireland, on the other hand, faces significant challenges in meeting its plastic packaging recycling targets. In 2021, Ireland's plastic packaging recycling rate was only 28%, well below the EU target of 50% set for 2025. While the quantity of packaging waste being recycled in Ireland is increasing annually, it cannot keep up with the overall increase in packaging waste generation. The majority of Ireland's plastic packaging waste is incinerated, contributing to carbon dioxide emissions.
To address this issue, Ireland has implemented measures such as the deposit return scheme, which aims to increase plastic packaging recycling rates and reduce contributions owed to the EU. Over 140 of Ireland's largest producers have committed to prioritising the prevention of plastic packaging waste, minimising single-use packaging, and promoting packaging reuse. As of July 2023, Ireland surpassed every recycling and recovery target set by the European Union for the twenty-fifth year in a row, with an estimated plastic packaging recycling rate of 31% in 2021.
Mechanical recycling is the most common method of recycling plastic packaging, but other methods, such as chemical or mechanical manufacturing processes, can be used to reprocess plastic waste into raw materials for new products. Recycled plastics can be used to create new packaging, bags, car components, furniture, building materials, and even kerbstones.
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The recycling process
After sorting, the plastic is typically baled into compressed rectangular blocks, weighing 1000-1500 lbs, and sold to recyclers. The bales are then cut open, and the material is placed on a conveyor belt for further processing. An additional sort is often necessary to remove any remaining contaminants, such as glass or small metals.
The sorted plastic then goes through a series of processes, including grinding, washing, and melting. In the grinding stage, the material is cut into small pieces called flakes. These flakes are then washed in hot water and detergent solution to remove dirt and dissolve adhesives. The flakes are rinsed again and air-dried. To separate different types of plastic, the flakes are placed in a large tank of water, where some float and others sink.
For plastic intended for food-contact packaging, a decontamination process using vacuum and heat under low oxygen levels is required to meet food safety standards. The flakes are then melted, filtered to remove solids, and processed into pellets. These pellets can then be used to create new plastic products, such as packaging, lumber, or garden furniture.
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Plastic packaging tax
The Plastic Packaging Tax is an environmental tax introduced in the UK on 1 April 2022. It is designed to encourage the use of recycled plastic and reduce plastic waste. The tax applies to plastic packaging produced in or imported into the UK that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic. It is charged at a rate of £200 per metric tonne of plastic packaging, with the UK government estimating that it will affect around 20,000 packaging producers and importers.
The tax applies to businesses that manufacture or import 10 or more tonnes of plastic packaging components or import packaged goods into the UK per year. Small operators who import or manufacture less than 10 tonnes of plastic packaging per year are exempt from paying the tax. The tax is charged on a per-component basis, with each individual finished packaging component liable for the tax. This includes packaging designed for single-use by a consumer or within a supply chain, such as bottles, caps, and labels.
To be classified as recycled plastic, the plastic waste must be reprocessed into a raw material that can be used to manufacture another plastic packaging component. Recycled plastic can come from pre-consumer waste, which is plastic recovered from the manufacturing process, or post-consumer waste, which is plastic that has been used and then reprocessed.
The introduction of the Plastic Packaging Tax is part of a broader push by the UK government to increase the domestic capacity to recycle and reuse plastic waste. By incentivizing the use of recycled plastic material, the government hopes to stimulate investment in recycling infrastructure. This should, in turn, positively impact the environment and encourage the inclusion of recycled content in packaging designs.
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Recycled plastic uses
Recycled plastic is used to create a wide range of items, including new packaging, bags, car components, furniture, building materials, paint pots, and even kerbstones. The use of recycled plastic is an important aspect of the circular economy, where waste is seen as a valuable resource that can be reused and recycled instead of becoming landfill.
In the UK, the recycling of plastic packaging has improved in recent years, with 45% of all plastic packaging recycled in 2016, up from 30% in 2015. This puts the UK 10th out of 30 EU countries for overall plastic recycling and 7th for plastic packaging recycling. To encourage the transition to a circular economy, the UK government has introduced a Plastic Packaging Tax, which is chargeable for each individual finished packaging component. However, packaging components containing 30% or more recycled plastic are exempt from this tax.
The recycling process for plastic packaging typically involves collecting, sorting, and cleaning the waste plastic before sending it to third-party partners to process it into usable forms. This recycled plastic is then sold to manufacturing companies to produce new products. Some companies even reprocess their own manufacturing waste, creating a closed-loop system where they reuse their own plastic waste.
One challenge with using recycled plastic is the stability of the raw material and the potential for cosmetic imperfections, such as deviations in colour. However, this can be mitigated by mixing recycled and virgin materials, especially for brightly coloured products. Additionally, mechanical recycling, which is the most common form of plastic recycling, may not always be economically sustainable. In these cases, energy recovery can be used to extract the energy content from the plastic, which has a higher calorific value than coal.
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Plastic packaging waste in the EU
Plastic packaging waste is a pressing issue in the EU. The average EU citizen produces 42.6 kg of sorted plastic waste annually, with Belgians and Italians producing more than this amount. However, this figure only represents the amount of plastic waste that is separately collected, and it is likely that a significant proportion of plastic in household waste is not recycled. Overall, it is estimated that only 32.5% of plastic is recycled in Europe, with the most common method of disposal being energy recovery, which involves incinerating plastic waste to produce heat, electricity, or fuel.
In 2018, the EU generated an estimated 77.7 million tonnes of packaging waste, with Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, and Ireland reporting the highest amounts of packaging waste per inhabitant. Plastic packaging waste specifically increased by three million tonnes in the EU from 2012 to 2021, and the average EU citizen generated nearly 35 kg of plastic packaging waste in 2020. This increase in plastic packaging waste has contributed to a decline in the overall recycling rate, despite efforts made by some countries. For instance, Wales has achieved an exceptional recycling rate and would be considered third in Europe if it were an EU member state.
To address the issue of plastic packaging waste, the EU adopted new rules in June 2019, setting targets for recycled content in plastic bottles and overall packaging waste reduction. By 2030, the EU aims to achieve a 25% recycled content rate in plastic bottles and a 5% reduction in total packaging waste per capita compared to 2018. Certain single-use plastic packaging types will be banned from 1 January 2030, and by that year, 90% of single-use plastic and metal beverage containers will need to be collected separately. While these targets are ambitious, the EU's recycling capacity is currently limited by a lack of technology, capacity, and financial resources, leading to the export of significant amounts of waste to non-EU countries.
Despite the challenges, there is a push for improvement, with the Green Deal aiming for 55% of plastic packaging waste to be recycled by 2030. This will require better designs for recyclability and measures to stimulate the market for recycled plastic. Additionally, there is a need to complement existing collection methods with Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) that focus on containers not currently collected for recycling, such as 'on-the-go' consumption items.
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Frequently asked questions
Recycled plastic packaging is packaging that has been reprocessed from pre-consumer plastic or post-consumer plastic waste. This can be done through a chemical or mechanical manufacturing process.
Pre-consumer plastic waste is plastic that is recovered from waste generated during a manufacturing process.
Post-consumer plastic waste is plastic that has been used by consumers and then recycled.
Recycled plastic packaging helps to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and contributes to a circular economy. It also provides a valuable raw material for manufacturing companies.
You can recycle plastic packaging by sending it to a local TerraCycle Material Recovery Facility (MRF) or using a Zero Waste Box™. Make sure to check with your local council or government for specific guidelines and restrictions on plastic recycling.
