Back in 2022, the Government announced that by 2027 every household in England would be able to recycle flexible plastic packaging at the kerbside; it felt like a genuine turning point. After years of being told that crisp packets, bread bags, salad bags and plastic wrapping belonged in the general waste bin, there was finally a clear route with Flexible Film Collections to capturing one of the UK’s most challenging waste streams.
But the dreams of this recycling progression were dashed last month when the Government announced the delay in the rollout of mandatory flexible plastic collections until 2030. This sparked frustration across the industry and became the talking point of the waste sector, with headlines in many blogs, newsletters and magazines. But one source that summed up the issues perfectly was the ‘Talking Rubbish’ podcast.
Hosted by industry & sustainability experts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth, each episode of ‘Talking Rubbish’ dives deep into the world of waste, exploring innovations and solutions to help you reduce, reuse, and recycle better. As soon as the delay was announced, the pair wasted no time chatting about the topic – they explored the reasons behind the delay and, perhaps more importantly, what happens next. So what did we learn from the experts?
The classic chicken and egg dilemma
At the heart of the debate sits one awkward question, one that many councils have been battling with. Do we collect flexible plastics first, proving that there is enough material to justify investment in recycling facilities? Or do we build the recycling infrastructure first, before asking millions of households to separate another waste stream?
In the podcast, both James and Robbie discussed this issue at length, and it seemed to be the reason that many Local Authorities hadn’t begun implementing the reforms before now. They have argued that recycling plants were aware these reforms were coming and could have expanded capacity earlier. Recyclers, meanwhile, have countered that no investor is going to commit millions of pounds without knowing there will be enough material arriving through the gates. As such it seems we have reached a Mexican Impasse, and unfortunately, as a result, neither side has moved quickly enough – which is a main factor in the delay.
Did the success of the trial create a problem?
One of the more surprising points raised on the podcast was just how successful flexible Film Collections trials have been. Pilot schemes collected around 150,000 tonnes of flexible plastics in their first year alone, with expectations that volumes would continue to increase significantly as more residents became familiar with the service.
Whilst in many cases, this would be seen as a win, unfortunately for those who are dealing with the recycling, the infrastructure is simply not yet ready to process it. Recycling plants are crying out for investment to help expand and deal with the collection volume; sadly, it seems that investors remain unconvinced the new reforms will succeed and are reluctant to comply. Investors have begun to think, ‘Why commit millions to new recycling facilities today if there is a risk that implementation will simply move again?’ Once again, a chicken-and-egg situation, causing yet more delays, and frustration!
Supporting flexible film collections with Cromwell
As local authorities continue trials and prepare for future rollout, having reliable collection systems remains essential. Cromwell Polythene supplies a range of Flex Collect bags, designed specifically to support the separate collection of flexible plastic packaging from households. The bags have proven to be a key element of success during trials as discussed in our recent blog, we can learn a lot from Wales in terms of recycling success.
There was so much more said in the Podcast which echoed the thoughts of both us and the industry, it is most certainly worth a listen or watch on their YouTube. Don’t forget Cromwell are here to help whether supporting pilot schemes, resident engagement or future collection services, we will continue to work alongside local authorities and the waste sector to maximise resourcefulness through practical solutions that help move the circular economy forward.
The reforms may pause, but progress should not, that is just talking rubbish!