Recoup UK plastic packaging collection survey outlines ‘monumental’ challenge

Plastic resource expert RECOUP has recently launched its annual UK Household Plastic Packaging Collection Survey, which its says outlines ‘the monumental scale of the challenge ahead’.

Whilst there have been incremental improvements across the board for kerbside service provision for plastic packaging, the charity said the scale to include other formats in collection services in a relatively short timescale is ‘unprecedented’, but one that is ‘entirely achievable’ with the right drive, funding, planning and leadership.

RECOUP said this means another 39 local authorities need to collect plastic pots, tubs and trays and 312 for plastic films and flexibles by March 2027 to comply with requirements – just over 2 years away.

Steve Morgan, head of policy & infrastructure, RECOUP, said: “Whereas the different instructions need to reflect local sorting and processing requirements, it’s in the benefits of consumers and all stakeholders to have simple, consistent national communications messages about how to present plastics for recycling. Packaging EPR and Deposit Return Schemes, through their respective Scheme Administrator and Deposit Management Organisation leadership, should build on the requirements of Simpler Recycling and provide the foundations and influence to enable one unified core set of messages about how to recycle.”.

Another key finding around communications in the 2024 RECOUP Survey wasn’t to residents but around local authority funding. With the focus on packaging EPR to provide the funding to collect and sort packaging, the impact of another policy needs greater awareness and urgent and robust plans to mitigate its impact.

The ETS is a market-driven mechanism that limits the emissions an involved industry is allowed to produce, with the intention to incentivise the development and uptake of decarbonisation technologies or practices to reduce emissions. The scheme is expanding to include waste incineration and energy from waste from 2028, preceded by a 2-year transitional period from 2026, and will significantly impact the dynamics of local authority funding. To reduce this impact, removing plastic packaging from residual waste will be key.

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