Local authorities will already be aware that from 31 March 2027, they are required to collect plastic film packaging and plastic bags from households. A new Valpak by Reconomy report – commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA) – will provide essential costings and advice for local authorities. The report will be published in early 2026.
Any large-scale service change should be grounded in sound evidence. For local authorities, it is especially important to understand costs and the impact of different choices, particularly when planning future budgets. This project builds on Valpak’s recent analysis for Defra of the volume of plastic placed on the market, as part of the PackFlow suite of reports. It will explore prospective end markets, provide practical guidance on how to incorporate plastic film into waste collection services, and assess costs.
Cllr Arooj Shah, environment spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said:
“Councils are committed to expanding recycling and helping residents do the right thing with plastic film, but this is a significant new duty at a time of severe financial pressure. This research will give local authorities clear, independent evidence on costs, service options and end markets, helping them plan new collections with confidence and make the case for the long-term funding and infrastructure needed to deliver real environmental benefits.”
The work will review existing data and evidence, and identify the risks associated with any gaps in knowledge – such as the logistics of recycling from communal properties. The aim is to provide local authorities with practical guidance, a comprehensive and independent analysis into costs, and an assessment of potential markets and end destinations for plastic film from households, including opportunities for domestic reprocessing.
Interim results include an overview of:
- plastic film placed on the market (POM)
- waste arisings
- capture for recycling, and
- reprocessing
While collection costs and logistics are primary concerns for local authorities, Valpak is also engaging with film reprocessors to understand current and future capacity for film sorting and recycling. All data will be aggregated to preserve anonymity as we assess end markets, to ensure there is sufficient demand for recycled film products.
Currently, our model mainly includes packaging film, but we are speaking to industry stakeholders to gain more insight into non-packaging film products within the consumer sector such as bubble wrap and bin bags. We would be particularly interested in hearing from local authorities who have negotiated or are currently negotiating contracts for film collections, sorting or processing, and those that have recently rolled out collections. Any recent compositional analyses of recycling and/or residual waste would also be appreciated. This is a collaborative project, so any further data source suggestions are very welcome!
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