12 October 2022
There have been exciting developments in the world of non-mechanical recycling recently. These new recycling technologies could have a huge impact on the transformation of our plastics system and our vision of a circular economy for plastics.
Non-mechanical recycling can help us keep precious natural resources in the ground and divert hard to recycle plastics from landfill or incineration, avoiding the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that occur as a result. These reasons alone present a compelling case. But there is so much more to unpick about the merits of these new technologies.
I recently wrote a paper titled 'Redesigning the plastics system - the role on non-mechanical recycling'. For those uninitiated with the world of non-mechanical recycling the paper offers a simple glance at the opportunities that exist with non-mechanical recycling technologies and the challenges to realising these opportunities. It also states clearly what we need to see from businesses and government to support the investment and development of infrastructure for these technologies. Here is what you need to know:
Let’s look higher up the waste hierarchy
It should never be in doubt that we need to eliminate all unnecessary and problematic single-use packaging, to reduce the amount of plastic placed on the market. We’re making progress on that through The UK Plastics Pact. We also need to see a significant expansion of reuse and refill options in supermarkets for shoppers. Another ambition under the Pact. However, where plastic is necessary, we must ensure that we capture and recycle it into high quality and high value products. Where this isn’t possible via ‘traditional’ recycling technologies, non-mechanical recycling can provide a solution.
Guarding against use in fuels
Some of the outputs from non-mechanical recycling technologies can be used in fuels (alternative and low hydrocarbon fuels are something the aviation industry is looking at). However, this falls under the 'recovery' step of the waste hierarchy and is something that at WRAP and under The UK Plastics Pact we would strongly discourage.
As good as new… new food grade plastic packaging
Most non-mechanical recycling breaks down plastic into its basic building blocks which are then reformed into virgin quality recyclate that can be used in the same way as virgin plastics.
This means that for plastics like bread bags, crisp packets, salad bags etc, recycling them in a non-mechanical process means that more of this plastic can meet Food Standard Agency (FSA) requirements and be used again in food packaging.
A game changer for recycled content levels
Producing virgin quality, food grade plastics is a potential game changer that could significantly boost recycled content levels. This would help us meet the 30% recycled content target required across all plastic packaging by 2025 (and avoid The Plastic Packaging Tax… more on that later). It will allow more plastic packaging to be effectively recycled and mean that we will be able to significantly reduce the use virgin plastics in plastic packaging. A win:win for the environment and our targets.
Complementing mechanical recycling
It is possible for non-mechanical recycling and mechanical recycling to work in harmony. For example, if mechanical recycling can get recyclate to a quality that is required (food grade for example) and for less money than non-mechanical, there isn't any business case to do it through a non-mechanical process. Put simply – plastics like aPET used in water bottles and HDPE used in milk bottles are not going to go through a non-mechanical process if we can get food grade feedstock though mechanical already. But, for formats like rigid PP trays and plastic bags and wrapping, where mechanical recycling into food grade plastic does not exist, then non-mechanical recycling provides a solution.
The fact that there are numerous different technologies which are engineered to work on different polymers and formats also means that previously hard to recycle and non-recyclable formats (multi-layer and complex laminate pouches come to mind) could be accepted in collection systems in future. This potential new stream of recyclate will also then, in turn, help meet the demand that brands and retailers have for recycled content.
Finding a way
These technologies are not a silver bullet. Like mechanical recycling, if you put poor quality in you are going to get poor quality out, and poor yields. The plastics will always need to be sorted effectively to ensure that yields are as high quality as possible.
The Plastic Packaging Tax classifies non-mechanical recycling as recycling, but, and it’s a big but, it does not allow mass balance and other similar calculations as an acceptable allocation methodology. Sounds complicated right? Well, in essence this means that you cannot count non-mechanical recyclate as part of the 30% recycled content. Whilst chairing a discussion panel on the non-mechanical recycling, I asked the audience if they would still use non-mechanically recycled feedstock in their packaging if the rules set by HMRC didn’t allow them to count it within the 30% - the response was a resounding 'no'. HMRC are aware of industry opinions on this and are engaging to help understand and inform future policy. We are hopeful of a positive resolution.
Discussion panel on non-mechanical recycling
To wrap up
Non-mechanical recycling technologies have a key role to play in moving the UK in to a truly circular economy for plastics. The UK Plastics Pact has a working group looking at how we can utilise them effectively and make the most of this new and emerging sector.
We have some simple asks of industry and government:
- Mass balance accountancy included as an allowable allocation method within the Plastics Packaging Tax.
- Non-mechanical recycling given the same legal status as recycling and not be bound by the same rules as incineration.
- Appropriate feedstock to be made available, through consistent kerbside collections.
- Further, independent work to effectively demonstrate that non-mechanical processes are the environmentally preferred option over the alternatives (such as incineration/Energy from Waste) and the production of virgin plastic.
- The use of outputs within low-hydrogen fuel alternatives to be strongly discouraged to keep material within the supply chain.
If you have stuck with me for this long, you will want to find out more - visit our non-mechanical recycling page on the WRAP website where we explore the subject in more depth.
The role of non-mechanical recycling
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