Resources

This report summarises the methods and findings of a project to understand the impacts of enhanced material sampling on facilities that receive recyclables.

The 2021 Plastics Market situation report provides in-depth information on the latest economic, market and regulatory trends affecting the capture and recycling of plastics. It explores key developments over the past few years and highlights the challenges and opportunities for the decade ahead.

WRAP works with governments, businesses and citizens to create a world in which resources are used sustainably. Read our April 2020-21 annual review to learn more about our mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, resource-efficient economy.

This is the twentieth publication of data under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (Schedule 9), relating to the reporting period, October – December (Q4) 2019, and represents over 5 years of data reporting by MF operators.

The summary statistics presented in this commentary are intended to be representative of the MFs who have submitted the quarterly return. In England 85 facilities notified the Regulator (in accordance with the Regulations) for October – December 2019, of which all 85 submitted a quarterly data return. In Wales, 12 facilities notified the Regulator, of which all 12 submitted returns.

Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) have a key role to play in the creation of high-quality/high-value recyclate streams that can be used as feedstock materials by a range of industries. The implementation of effective Quality Management Systems (QMS) can support this through consistency of approach, risk management and commercial differentiation.

In this webinar Peter Sainsbury, WRAP Lead Economist, talks about the shifts in recovered materials, including plastics, paper and card, textiles, metal and glass price volatility. Debbie Palfrey, WRAP Cymru Materials Marketing & Compliance Advisor, also discusses learning from Materials Marketing in Wales and strategies local authorities can employ.

The 2019 Textiles Market Situation Report highlights developments in the market for UK used textiles as well as key factors shaping the outlook for the sector.

WRAP has launched a series of market situation reports providing in-depth information on the latest economic trends and developments facing the UK’s recycling industry. Each report focuses on a different material stream and is presented in a compact, easily digestible format.

WRAP is working in partnership with industry to develop a viable process to improve the identification and sorting of post-consumer packaging (including PET, HDPE and PP) suitable for food-grade application. The phases below provide an update on the progress made so far and the remaining challenges. For the latest report (2016) looking at fluorescent markers, see Phase 6.

This report details compositional analysis of plastics received and produced by UK Material Recovery Facilities and Plastic Recovery Facilities. 

The estimated quantity of plastic packaging placed on the market & recycled from 2017 to 2025 and the probability of compliance with national and European recycling targets.

This study aims to examine the potential factors that may affect high reject rates at Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF), in order to help suggest areas to focus interventions on and also improve data quality.