And so the heatwave continues, I hope everyone is managing to keep cool!
It was great to spend some time in Cardiff last week, catching up with colleagues from the Welsh Authorities and the Welsh Government at our LARAC Wales conference.
As ever, I am always so impressed at how well Wales are doing, and the lessons that can be learnt from them. They are still working hard to continue to deliver excellent recycling rates and implement new projects and pilots.
Topics included key policy areas such as EPR and ETS, and there was a very lively debate around plastic packaging and whether – controversially – it was needed at all! It was pointed out by WRAP colleagues at the conference, that research is available around this topic, which found that it's not always necessary for the longevity of food to use plastic wrapping.
There were also some updates on the workplace recycling regulations, introduced in Wales in April 2024, litter, enforcement, flats above shops, and reuse. All in all, it was once again a packed and interesting agenda, and my thanks goes out to all of the speakers, sponsors and organisers involved.
And only a couple of days later, there was the confirmation that Wales will be including glass in their DRS scheme, and will therefore include different materials to those that will be collected through the DRS in both England and Northern Ireland. The outcomes of the fact that these schemes will now differ in different areas of the UK will be interesting to see.
Whilst in Cardiff, myself and a few colleagues took the opportunity to visit the Royal Mint, who have changed their business model in recent years to accommodate for the fact that fewer coins are now minted. A new process is now in place where ‘waste’ electrical circuit boards are collected, the precious metals are removed and the plastic shredded for reuse. The gold and silver removed is currently used for making jewellery. It was an impressive set up and thanks go out to the Mint for a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting day.
As for the rest of the Summer, apart from trying to contend with the high temperatures, I shall be eagerly awaiting (as I am sure others will be) the outcome of the ETS consultation, as there will no doubt be a significant amount of work to do around this. Not least so, continuing to lobby PackUK over the ETS costs around packaging being paid through the packaging EPR scheme. Watch this space…..
