Request
i wrote to my mp to find out more about what is happening to the recycled waste that is collected from the kerbside. they wrote to you and i received an email from my mp's office giving the link explaining what happens to your waste.
https://www.nlwa.gov.uk/article/what-happens-my-recycling/plastic-bottles-pots-tubs-and-trays
i can see the plastic bottles are converted into new bottles but it is less clear what happens to mixed plastics. there are a number of companies that are on the list of destinations. i have a few questions regarding mixed plastics specifically:
1) which companies in the list receive mixed plastics
2) have you asked these companies to share a trail audit with you so that you know the end or grave destination of each plastic waste stream they handle?
3) if you have, will be great if you can share with me, thanks.
4) if not, what is the reason as you must be aware that there still exist loopholes in the system resulting n much of our plastic waste being dumped in poorer countries that don't have the resources to deal with it. please see -
https://actions.eko.org/a/ban-eu-plastic-waste-exports
https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/12/loophole-will-let-uk-continue-to-ship-plastic-waste-to-poorer-countries
Response
Thank you for your request for information about recycling of mixed plastics, received on 29 March 2023. Your request has been allocated the reference number 2023-206 and is being handled under the Environmental Information Regulations (EiR) 2004.
Biffa Waste Services, our contractor for treatment of mixed dry recyclables, is contractually required to provide us with information on the tonnages of each type of waste they send on from their sorting facility in Edmonton, London. Mixed plastics are mostly sent to one facility, namely the Biffa Aldridge Depot at Westgate, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8YH. The exception is for rigid plastics that end up in the waste stream, for example buckets, which are sent to IP Polymers at 1 The Works, West Marsh Lane, Barrow Upon Humber, DN19 7EU. A sample extracted from the data provided by Biffa showing the destinations for mixed plastics in the fourth quarter of the financial year 2022-23 is below.
|
Site/Contract |
Material |
Tonnes |
% of Material |
|
BIFFA ALDRIDGE DEPOT |
Plastics Mixed Baled |
908.04 |
100.00% |
|
BIFFA ALDRIDGE DEPOT |
Plastics Mixed Pet Baled |
623.52 |
100.00% |
|
IP POLYMERS |
Plastics Mixed Plastics Rigid Baled |
35.20 |
100.00% |
At both facilities referenced above, the plastics are sorted into grades, washed, and granulated. The granulated material is sold to manufacturers to be turned into new products. Any plastics rejected during the sorting process are sent to energy from waste facilities in the UK or Europe to be incinerated.
If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to raise a further information request. If you would like to complain about our handling of information requests, you can do so by emailing this email address (informationrequests@nlwa.gov.uk) or using the enquiry form on our website.
