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| Plastic recycling: Your questions answered | Plastic recycling: Your questions answered |
| (2 months later) | |
| People in England will soon have to pay a deposit when they buy drinks bottles and cans in a bid to boost recycling and cut waste. | |
| The announcement of the deposit return scheme follows Sir David Attenborough's Blue Planet programme, which showed vivid images of plastic pollution. | |
| But as plastic continues to dominate our shopping aisles for now, we asked you to send in any questions you had about the new scheme and plastic recycling. | |
| Where will I return plastic bottles to reclaim the deposit? Will I have another recycling bin? -Marianne | |
| You will not need another recycling bin as the scheme will not operate through kerbside collections. | |
| In order to reclaim a deposit, customers will need to take their empty bottles to a collection point, which are likely to be located in shops and other public spaces. | |
| Some countries which already operate a similar deposit system have installed "reverse vending machines" to automate the process of reclaiming a deposit. | |
| Many of these machines are able to sort, crush and store used bottles. | |
| So called "reverse-vending" has operated in Sweden since 1984 where more than 90% of household waste is recycled. | |
| Would you be financially rewarded for collecting bottles to be recycled? - Anonymous | |
| Yes, if people have discarded deposit bottles or cans without claiming the deposit, they are fair game for anyone to pick up. | |
| You will not need to prove you purchased the bottle in order to claim the deposit. | |
| In the times when there was a deposit on glass bottles in the UK, children often used to scoop up waste bottles to make a bit of pocket money. | |
| In some US states, the sight of hard-up "can men" or "can women" gathering cans and claiming the deposit is commonplace. | |
| Some pensioners in the German city of Berlin have taken to collecting plastic bottles to supplement their incomes. | |
| Arguably a high deposit fee would have the effect of maximising recycling, but also maximising the worth of discarded cans. | |
| While it is not yet know how high the deposit is expected to be in England, costs elsewhere range from 22p in Germany and 8p in Sweden. | |
| Why is the scheme only being introduced in England? - Jane | |
| The scheme is only being introduced in England because waste policy is a devolved issue. | |
| For example, Wales was the first of the Nations to introduce a charge for plastic bags in shops in 2011. | |
| Northern Ireland followed suit in 2013, followed by Scotland in October 2014, and England in 2015. | |
| Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a similar deposit return scheme for Scotland in September 2017. | |
| How will this affect local authorities that contract recycling to waste companies? - Mark | |
| The government is looking to devise a scheme that doesn't undermine local authority collections. But it's a tricky issue and, ultimately, the effects are uncertain at this stage. | |
| There has been some disruption to the recycling system since China resolved at the start of the year to ban imports of waste for recycling. | |
| Why are some plastics able to be recycled while others are not? - Joseph | Why are some plastics able to be recycled while others are not? - Joseph |
| There are more than 50 different types of plastics, making it more difficult to sort and reprocess than other materials. | There are more than 50 different types of plastics, making it more difficult to sort and reprocess than other materials. |
| Nearly all types of plastics can be recycled, but the extent to which they are depends on factors such as whether the technology is available in the area you live. | Nearly all types of plastics can be recycled, but the extent to which they are depends on factors such as whether the technology is available in the area you live. |
| Many recycling collections in the UK have focused on key packaging types, for example plastic bottles, which are heavier than most other plastics and therefore relatively easy to sort. | Many recycling collections in the UK have focused on key packaging types, for example plastic bottles, which are heavier than most other plastics and therefore relatively easy to sort. |
| Often packaging can consist of more than one polymer type, which makes it more difficult to recycle. | Often packaging can consist of more than one polymer type, which makes it more difficult to recycle. |
| Problematic plastics include black plastic food trays, which are used by many supermarkets. | Problematic plastics include black plastic food trays, which are used by many supermarkets. |
| They are generally not collected as sorting machines are not able to detect them - the carbon black makes them invisible. | They are generally not collected as sorting machines are not able to detect them - the carbon black makes them invisible. |
| If they are collected, they are likely to be rejected at the sorting plant although companies are looking at new technology to get around this problem. | If they are collected, they are likely to be rejected at the sorting plant although companies are looking at new technology to get around this problem. |
| Some companies now use yoghurt pots made out of polyethylene terephthalate - the same material that is used for plastic bottles, making them easily recyclable. | Some companies now use yoghurt pots made out of polyethylene terephthalate - the same material that is used for plastic bottles, making them easily recyclable. |
| But other yoghurt pots are made from polystyrene, which is not usually accepted in recycling schemes. | But other yoghurt pots are made from polystyrene, which is not usually accepted in recycling schemes. |
| Margarine tubs are often made from a wide range of polymers, which require technology not readily available in the UK - meaning it is often shipped abroad for recycling. | Margarine tubs are often made from a wide range of polymers, which require technology not readily available in the UK - meaning it is often shipped abroad for recycling. |
| Some district and borough councils collect plastic bags and film with their recycling, but they are not easy to sort mechanically meaning they are very costly to process. | Some district and borough councils collect plastic bags and film with their recycling, but they are not easy to sort mechanically meaning they are very costly to process. |
| Why can plastic trays be recycled in, say, Sheffield or Isle of Wight, but not in my home city of Manchester? - Paul Mostyn | Why can plastic trays be recycled in, say, Sheffield or Isle of Wight, but not in my home city of Manchester? - Paul Mostyn |
| Many local authorities now allow residents to put plastic trays in their kerbside collection but recycling is managed locally, rather than by central government. | Many local authorities now allow residents to put plastic trays in their kerbside collection but recycling is managed locally, rather than by central government. |
| What each council decides to recycle depends on the resources available. | What each council decides to recycle depends on the resources available. |
| In Greater Manchester, the only plastic recycled is plastic bottles because they don't have the technology available to sort between different types. | In Greater Manchester, the only plastic recycled is plastic bottles because they don't have the technology available to sort between different types. |
| A bottle and a food tray, for example, can't be recycled together as they melt at different temperatures. | A bottle and a food tray, for example, can't be recycled together as they melt at different temperatures. |
| Recycle for Greater Manchester, part of England's largest Waste Disposal Authority, says it focuses on plastic bottles as they are in demand by manufacturers that make new products, whereas there is low demand for plastics like yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and plastic trays. | Recycle for Greater Manchester, part of England's largest Waste Disposal Authority, says it focuses on plastic bottles as they are in demand by manufacturers that make new products, whereas there is low demand for plastics like yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and plastic trays. |
| However, other areas, such as Surrey, are happy to take those items for recycling. | However, other areas, such as Surrey, are happy to take those items for recycling. |
| According to the UK Household Plastics Collection Survey 2017, by Recoup - a UK organisation which recycles plastics, 76% of (298) local authorities in the UK collect plastic pots, tubs and trays. | According to the UK Household Plastics Collection Survey 2017, by Recoup - a UK organisation which recycles plastics, 76% of (298) local authorities in the UK collect plastic pots, tubs and trays. |
| Only five local authorities out of 391 do not offer a collection service for plastic bottles, while 19% (75) collect plastic film and 9% (34) collect non-packaging plastics. | Only five local authorities out of 391 do not offer a collection service for plastic bottles, while 19% (75) collect plastic film and 9% (34) collect non-packaging plastics. |
| To find out what you can recycle where you live, click here. | To find out what you can recycle where you live, click here. |
| Can ALL of the plastic milk bottle be recycled - including the (harder) plastic screw cap? - L. Hudson | Can ALL of the plastic milk bottle be recycled - including the (harder) plastic screw cap? - L. Hudson |
| Plastic bottles are the most commonly collected packaging type because they are easy to sort and can easily be recycled in the UK, where a far higher amount is used than in most countries because it is used as a milk container. | Plastic bottles are the most commonly collected packaging type because they are easy to sort and can easily be recycled in the UK, where a far higher amount is used than in most countries because it is used as a milk container. |
| Until recently, people were advised to remove lids from their plastic bottles because they were a different colour and could contaminate the bottle stream. | Until recently, people were advised to remove lids from their plastic bottles because they were a different colour and could contaminate the bottle stream. |
| However, many processors are now able to separate the lids from the bottles themselves. | However, many processors are now able to separate the lids from the bottles themselves. |
| Check your local area. | Check your local area. |
| What about empty toothpaste tubes? Millions of those will be thrown away every year, but am I correct in thinking they cannot be recycled? - Peter Hickman | What about empty toothpaste tubes? Millions of those will be thrown away every year, but am I correct in thinking they cannot be recycled? - Peter Hickman |
| Yes, squeezable toothpaste tubes are difficult to recycle and it is unusual for councils to collect them as part of their collections schemes. | Yes, squeezable toothpaste tubes are difficult to recycle and it is unusual for councils to collect them as part of their collections schemes. |
| This also applies to other squeezable tubes that contain products, like moisturising creams. | This also applies to other squeezable tubes that contain products, like moisturising creams. |
| However, the pump action toothpaste tubes are made from a different type of plastic and are easier to recycle. | However, the pump action toothpaste tubes are made from a different type of plastic and are easier to recycle. |
| When recycled plastic has to be melted down and reformed to make it into new, doesn't this produce gases? - Ben | When recycled plastic has to be melted down and reformed to make it into new, doesn't this produce gases? - Ben |
| Even when plastics can be recycled, some worry that doing so is even worse for the environment. | Even when plastics can be recycled, some worry that doing so is even worse for the environment. |
| According to Professor Thomas Kinnaman of Bucknell University in the US, recycling plastic uses roughly double the energy, labour and machinery necessary to put it in landfill. | According to Professor Thomas Kinnaman of Bucknell University in the US, recycling plastic uses roughly double the energy, labour and machinery necessary to put it in landfill. |
| It could also become less efficient in the future, as modern incinerators produce less and less pollution. | It could also become less efficient in the future, as modern incinerators produce less and less pollution. |
| And recycling has its own environmental costs, including more trucks on the road. | And recycling has its own environmental costs, including more trucks on the road. |
| Recycling paper and glass, however, requires much less energy. | Recycling paper and glass, however, requires much less energy. |
| And governments are still encouraging recycling to reduce our need to extract ever more raw material from the environment. | And governments are still encouraging recycling to reduce our need to extract ever more raw material from the environment. |
| Moreover, leaving plastics in landfills can allow greenhouses gases to be released as they begin to break down. | Moreover, leaving plastics in landfills can allow greenhouses gases to be released as they begin to break down. |
| What can households do to reduce plastic waste? - Karen Lee | What can households do to reduce plastic waste? - Karen Lee |
| The environmental pressure group Greenpeace sets out seven ways for people to reduce the amount of plastic they throw away. | The environmental pressure group Greenpeace sets out seven ways for people to reduce the amount of plastic they throw away. |
| Their tips include: avoid packaged vegetables, carry a reusable cup and getting your milk delivered in glass bottles rather than buying plastics ones. | Their tips include: avoid packaged vegetables, carry a reusable cup and getting your milk delivered in glass bottles rather than buying plastics ones. |
| Other tips include using tupperware boxes instead of clingfilm to keep food fresh and avoiding coffee capsules which cannot be recycled. | Other tips include using tupperware boxes instead of clingfilm to keep food fresh and avoiding coffee capsules which cannot be recycled. |