Local authorities across the UK continue to face rising recycling expectations amid tightening budgets, evolving regulations, and public demand. DS Smith Recycling partners closely with councils, contractors, and industry to ensure that recyclate—especially paper and cardboard—is not only collected but recycled into high‑quality products within the UK.
The Numbers Behind the System
According to recent figures, the UK household recycling rate reached 44.6% in 2023, up from 44.1% in 2022—though still well short of the government’s 65% target by 2035. Across the UK’s four nations, performance varies considerably: Wales leads at 57%, Northern Ireland 50.2%, England 44.0%, and Scotland 42.1%. [gov.uk]
Total local authority‑managed waste amounted to 25.1 million tonnes in 2023/24, with 10.4 million tonnes recycled—an increase of 3.6% compared to the previous year. This shift also saw landfill disposal fall to just 5.5% of local authority waste, a 22% decline from 2022/23. [bartecmunicipal.com]
In the packaging sector, 5.4 million tonnes of paper and cardboard packaging were generated in 2023, with a recovery rate of approximately 73.4%, equating to 3.9 million tonnes actually recycled. Sector‑specific data further highlights that 70.6% of paper and cardboard collected from households is recycled in the UK. [statista.com][wastemanaged.co.uk]
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However, quality remains a challenge. The biggest barrier is contamination—especially in wet weather. DS Smith data indicates a 40% spike in plastic contamination entering paper and card processing during wetter months. [circularonline.co.uk]
Turning Insights into Action
High-quality recyclate largely depends on the cleanliness and dryness of materials at the kerbside. Through shared data and operational insight, DS Smith partners with councils to identify contamination hotspots and trial targeted interventions—from improved bin labelling to wet‑weather storage guidance.
The industry‑wide shift towards standardised collection systems, propelled by Simpler Recycling and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), offers the chance to simplify messaging for residents—reducing confusion, improving capture rates, and boosting material quality.
With DS Smith’s UK‑based reprocessing infrastructure, councils benefit from a truly closed‑loop system: paper and cardboard collected locally are reprocessed in regional mills, then remanufactured into new packaging—preserving resources and cutting reliance on virgin fibre.
Engaging the Public to Do Better
Behavioral insights from WRAP's Recycling Tracker highlight that, while 89% of UK adults regularly recycle, 79% admit to throwing recyclables in general waste, and 81%’ve added non‑recyclables into recycling bins due to confusion. Just 9% feel “very confident” about recycling correctly. [wrap.ngo], [recyclenow.com][wrap.ngo]
Effective communications—delivered in partnership with DS Smith—help councils empower residents with clear guidance. Whether detailing how to handle wet cardboard or explaining why plastics do not belong in paper recycling, precise messaging builds trust and drives sustained participation.
By combining data-driven local authority insight, streamlined collections, and materials expertise, DS Smith Recycling supports councils in turning today’s recyclables into tomorrow’s resources. Together, we can build resilient, efficient, and future-ready recycling systems for the benefit of all UK communities.
