LARAC has called for the industry to work together to help local authorities promote their collections schemes following widespread reporting of increases in contamination. LARAC is concerned that parts of the industry are blaming local authorities despite councils having well publicised and well run collection services in place. LARAC points out that councils cannot compel residents to use recycling services and their powers have been limited in this area in recent years.
Andrew Bird, Chair LARAC, said “It is disappointing that as an industry we talk about confusion when it comes to recycling and help perpetuate the myth. Councils work hard to promote their services and give residents clear guidelines about what can be accepted. Calls for standard systems are not the answer as the collections systems are purely a function of the materials on the market and the economic reprocessing facilities available. With ongoing funding cuts, we need to look at new ways of getting funds into the whole collection system via policies such as Extended Producer Responsibility and Direct Charging schemes.”
LARAC remarks that few other industries would so publicly help create myths and difficulties for itself by talking about confusion so often. Feedback from LARAC members is that residents generally know what can go in their own recycling schemes but that they are more aware of schemes in other areas with differences. LARAC points out that it is the wide range of plastic packaging that is now used that causes local authorities difficulties with their communications. The uneven reprocessing network and difficulties with the economic viability of plastic recycling is also a big barrier for local authorities in this area. LARAC states that this shows it is an industry wide issue that needs coming together and joint working and less council bashing if it is to be taken forward constructively.
