RECOUP touts plastics recycling breakthroughs

Member-based registered charity RECOUP, which is based in Woodston, United Kingdom, says it will continue to promote and bring to the attention of industry and the wider public the opportunities available in plastics recycling.

RECOUP says it is well-placed to make connections to media, NGOs (nongovernmental organizations), government agencies, the recycling industry, manufacturers and designers of packaging, brand owners and consumers.

The organization says the 2017 version of its Recyclability By Design Guidelines, designed to aid in the production of packaging that considers recyclability from the outset, were presented at 2017 RECOUP Conference, which took place Wednesday, Sept. 28, in Paston, U.K.

What RECOUP calls “the most important aspect of the publication,” the polymer-specific recyclability tables, have been reviewed and revised for the 2017 version. “As the polymer-specific recyclability tables are the most important and relevant part of the document, we are very grateful to members from the recycling industry for their valuable time, input and approval in reviewing and confirming the accuracy of the tables,” says RECOUP Packaging Technologist Paul East.

In the U.K., RECOUP says there “remains a gap between the purchase volume by the consumer of easily recycled plastics packaging (what we know goes into the home) and the volume placed by the consumer for recycling (what we know is collected curbside).”

Through its members, RECOUP says it continues to explore recycling markets to increase the volume and quality of material feedstock. The organization cites Tonbridge, U.K.-based Newton Waterproofing Systems as a company that has developed a “back to base” recycling system for unusable off-cuts of HDPE waterproofing membranes. The system allows its customers to be able to return to Newton scrap material in dedicated bags. The off-cuts are returned to Newton’s facility and shredded and recycled.  The material is reprocessed into pellet that is incorporated in products for use within the construction industry.  

“Every year, hundreds of tons of unused off-cuts of virgin and recycled cavity drainage membrane is sent to landfill by the U.K. waterproofing industry, as there were no recycling facilities capable of collecting and recycling the materials,” says Warren Muschialli, managing director of Newton Waterproofing Systems.

Stuart Foster, CEO of RECOUP, says of the Newton project, “We are delighted that Newton Waterproofing Systems have taken the lead in looking at ways post-industrial plastics can be recycled by the construction industry. Utilizing RECOUP’s knowledge and membership links, Newton have been able to improve and increase plastics recycling through its Membrane Recycling Service, which shows real commitment and foresight from the company’s leadership.”

A video with more information on the Newton Waterproofing Scheme can be viewed here.

“Right now, plastics manufacturers and the plastics recycling industry are under the spotlight as never before, in particular from the press, the NGOs and politicians,” says Mike Baxter, external affairs director of U.K.-based RPC bpi recycled products, comments, “We believe our industry can be proud of its achievements with the amount of waste plastics recovered and recycled in the U.K. increasing year on year. The RECOUP Conference provides the ideal platform for promoting our industry’s successes whilst also discussing current issues with many of the key stakeholders, [it’s] an event not to be missed.” (Baxter also will be speaking at the 2017 Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference Europe, taking place in Warsaw Nov. 7-8.)