Is the UK Good at Recycling Packaging?
The latest insight into recycling rates has been released. It shows a slight increase in the percentage of packaging being recycled, yet shows there is plenty of room for improvement.
Paper & Cardboard Recycling
Firstly, the highest rates for recycling packaging relate to paper and cardboard at 73.4%. That’s because households and business users are generally clear that most paper-based packaging can be recycled. Many areas of the UK also have designated cardboard collections. What’s more, there are facilities to transform discarded paper and cardboard into new boxes and paper within weeks.
Ways to increase these figures include:
- Using 100% recyclable moisture-resistant coatings for paper-based packaging that needs a barrier layer
- Adding recycling information to e-commerce delivery boxes
Metal & Glass Recycling
Two other products that are widely recycled are metal (at 71.2%) and glass (at 67.8%). Canned food and drinks, bottles and jars are widely disposed of in household recycling bins. In addition, there are designated recycling options for commercial metal and glass waste.
Plastic & Wood Recycling
Two packaging materials where less than half of all waste is being recycled are plastic and wood. One issue with plastic is that there are so many different types. Some can be recycled, others can’t and consumers are unsure which is which. The multitude of recycling labels adds to the confusion.
Unfortunately, there are other products, including cork and wax, which have the potential to be recycled but currently aren’t. This data points to the fact that the UK needs more investment in recycling facilities to help improve the conversion of waste material into usable products.
Packaging Waste Deposit Return Schemes
One action that could boost recycling rates is a nationwide Deposit Return Scheme. An example, Re-turn has recently been launched in Ireland. It involves a slight increase in the cost of recyclable items, which is recouped when the packaging is returned to a collection bank. The Irish scheme focuses on plastic bottles and aluminium cans.
Unfortunately, plans for a UK Deposit Return Scheme have been pushed back to 2027.
