RECOUP Plastics Recycling Conference concludes

Pictured above: RECOUP CEO Stuart Foster

According to RECOUP (Recycling of Used Plastics Ltd.), based in the U.K., more than 200 delegates from across the United Kingdom and Europe attended the RECOUP Plastics Recycling Conference 29 September 2016 in Peterborough, U.K. 

Heap

BBC “Countryfile” presenter Tom Heap, who, at last year’s conference sparked debate on the daily confusion of the consumer as to what plastics can and cannot be recycled, led the opening session. Heap, picking up where he had left off, quizzed speakers and delegates to see if they felt that the plastics recycling industry had moved any further forward in giving clarity to the householder. The overwhelming feeling from the delegates was that the consumer was in fact no wiser and that contradictions within recycling collections remained, RECOUP says.   

Helmut Maurer from the European Commission called for action, saying, “We cannot be continually saying year on year things have stayed the same; it is time now for action. There is no time to waste in treating plastic as a valuable resource."

The organisation says Maurer also called for an effective landfill ban on plastics as he predicted a doubling in recycling targets.  

RECOUP reports that delegates were in agreement that more communication to consumers about plastics recycling was needed to increase recycling levels and decrease contamination if plastics recycling levels are going to reach government targets. 

RECOUP CEO Stuart Foster informed the delegates how they had played their part this year in working to meet the consumer out and about to promote plastic recycling, often as collaborations and partnerships. Foster also called for the industry to “deliver on a practical level.”  

Working with Marks & Spencer (M & S), RECOUP engaged in consumer insight. Kevin Vyse from M & S outlined how the retailer was exploring the possibilities of reducing the types of plastic packaging placed on the market, which would help solve the problem of consistency and remove the confusion for the consumer.  Vyse said, “Despite everything, people still do not know what to do with plastics; that must change.”

Mike Baxter, U.K.-based BPI Recycling Products external affairs director, aimed his presentation at busting the myth that the industry was in “crisis” and challenging the trade press on reports linking falling oil prices to recent high-profile failures. He identified other reasons for such failures, mainly connected with heavy reliance on public funding.  Baxter questioned the audience to see if they supported his view point, and 81 percent of the delegates felt that the packaging and recycling press did not accurately reflect the health of the U.K. plastics recycling sector, RECOUP reports. 

Other speakers from WRAP, the British Plastic Federation, the CO-OP, Buckinghamshire County Council, TOTAL, LARAC, Suez, Danone and Hahn Plastics also shared their views and activities at the RECOUP annual conference.

The 2017 RECOUP Conference will be 28 September in Peterborough, U.K.