Following recent revelations from a Greenpeace investigation on UK plastic exports, campaigners have urged the UK government to “take control” of the plastic problem. The investigation which took place across 10 sites in Southern Turkey has brought to life how UK plastic waste exports have been illegally dumped and burned rather than recycled.

Since China announced it would no longer be accepting imported plastic of less than 99.5% purity, the UK has turned to alternative countries to help manage waste since January 2018, including; Turkey, Malaysia, Poland, and Indonesia.

Last year alone, 210,000 tonnes of the UK’s plastic waste was exported to Turkey where reports state that the material was burnt and dumped in various locations such as roadsides, fields, and waterways.

A spokesperson for Greenpeace Turkey has reported that as many as 241 truckloads of plastic waste are imported from countries across Europe each day.

Alongside other countries across Europe, the UK’s plastic waste exports have been overwhelming Turkey’s recycling system, which does not have the capacity to cope with the high volume of materials.

“Governments need to take control of their own plastic problems”, says Manfred Santen, Chemist at Greenpeace Germany. “German trash has to be treated in Germany.”

With a similar sentiment, a spokesperson from the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has said “we are clear that the UK should handle more of its waste at home”.

Since the Coronavirus outbreak in 2019 and the resulting strain upon importing and exporting of goods, there has been an increased focus on products being ‘Made in the UK’. But many now fear there is a discrepancy between the amount of material that is used and recycled within the UK.

The latest UK Statistics on Waste report has estimated that the UK uses 5 million tonnes of plastic each year, of which around 45% is recycled (including exported materials). This goes to say that each year 2.75 million tonnes of plastic waste goes unrecycled by the UK every year; representing a huge loss of potential opportunity for plastic recyclers.

With fingers now pointing at the UK government to deal with the UK’s waste plastic, many have suggested introducing a ban on the exporting of these materials in favour of a UK-based recycling infrastructure.

As around two thirds of the UK’s plastic waste is currently being sent overseas this would be no easy-feat; however, the long term benefits could include a great deal of opportunity for UK-based recyclers. UK companies are also being urged to close the loop on their plastic production by taking responsibility for the way that their waste plastic is managed.

Whilst offering the opportunity for the UK to stay in control of its waste management, the solution would also help to reduce the emissions and costs involved with the transportation of waste.

The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has responded to campaigners, saying that “the UK is a global leader in tackling plastic pollution and our proposals for extended producer responsibility for packaging, a plastic packaging tax and mandatory electronic waste tracking will boost recycling rates, reduce waste and cut crime.”

UK-based recycling machinery manufacturer Rotajet Systems has experienced the effects of these regulations firsthand, with Company Director, Colin Steward, saying “we’ve experienced a significant rise in demand for our recycling plants to deal with the volume of industrial and household plastic waste being produced across the UK.

It’s great to see more and more UK companies putting these systems in place to deal with plastic waste in a way that is sustainable, environmentally-friendly, and even profitable.”

With the necessary infrastructure in place, this would suggest that the UK has the capacity to deal with more of its own plastic waste without the need for exporting materials elsewhere.

Whilst this would provide a financial solution to the environmental problem, this in-country way of dealing with plastic waste could also open up potential business and employment opportunities to UK citizens.

Rotajet Systems and AMIS have decided to join forces in the latest big news for the plastic recycling industry, machine manufacturers and suppliers.

With their headquarters in Zuzenhausen, Germany, AMIS have built their reputation on their absolute dedication to customer satisfaction. Established in 1994 with just 6 employees their success led to a fast expansion which grew their workforce to 60 in just a few years.

Today, AMIS is one of the largest suppliers of size reduction technology in Europe and maintains a stock of more than 200 used machines, new Zerma machines and a large selection of spares.

As Rotajet Systems gears up as newly approved UK and Ireland agents for AMIS, the partners are excited for the new opportunities that this could lead to.

Equally, with AMIS as approved agents for Rotajet, the company expects to see new doors opening for business opportunities within the European Union.

Rotajet Systems are another key player in the plastic recycling industry; offering customers anywhere from plastic washing and drying machinery up to full plastic recycling plants.

Specialising in producing full recycling systems, Rotajet is a leading UK-based manufacturer with approved agents across the globe.

Bringing to the table 30 years of knowledge and experience, Rotajet has developed their range of plastic recycling equipment to suit the varying demands of the industry.

With this, Rotajet have built relationships with many other key players across the world to deliver leading solutions to the world’s plastic crisis.

Now with the forces of AMIS on side, Rotajet will be able to expand their offering to customers and position themselves as a market leader in the supply of recycling machinery.

As a part of this new partnership deal, Rotajet will be supplying and supporting the complete range of size reduction equipment offered by Amis including; new Zerma machinery, reconditioned machines, and a part exchange service for clients that want to upgrade existing shredders or granulators.

Colin Steward of Rotajet has said of the relationship: “we have been working with Amis for some time, and the introduction of AMIS machinery and services into our portfolio gives our clients a complete suite of plastic recycling machinery from one supplier.

It will also allow us to offer our customers the very best that size reduction machinery has to offer, with a full range of specialised, market-leading equipment”.

The new deal will also help AMIS in their mission to become a global leader in the supply of size-reduction equipment, adding to their ever-growing network across the world.

In a bid to reduce virgin polymer use in plastics, the UK government announced back in 2017 that a tax on single-use plastic was to be outlined and enforced over the coming years. 

Fast forward to 2021 and the proposed ‘Plastic Packaging Tax’ is now set to commence from 1st April 2022, creating important changes that UK manufacturers, importers, and consumers should be aware of. 

After almost 4 years in the making, exact conditions detailing how this tax will be enforced have been agreed by the UK government with expectations to “transform the economics of sustainable packaging”, according to Chancellor Philip Hammond. 

The Chancellor has also stated that “we must become a world leader in tackling the scourge of plastic littering our planet and our oceans”. Other key figureheads in the industry have agreed that introducing a new approach to managing plastic is necessary, with the Chief Executive of UK recycling at Suez, David Palmer, saying the Chancellor has “recognised that a systematic change is required”. 

This comes following a recent upsurge in both social and political movements towards creating a global circular economy. With public figures from David Attenborough to Greta Thunberg working to increase public awareness on environmental issues such as climate change, the impacts of plastic packaging have become a key focal point to address in creating a circular economy. 

Outlines of the proposal

Since receiving 162,000 responses to the original proposal back in 2017, the government has been defining the small details that make up the Plastic Packaging Tax. At Budget 2018, one such factor outlined that any plastic packaging containing less than 30% recycled plastic would be taxable at a rate of £200 per tonne. 

In this instance, liable plastic is being defined as ‘plastic by weight’ and will also apply to both plastic packaging which has been manufactured in the UK and that which has been imported, whether the product is filled or unfilled. 

To help out smaller businesses, a threshold has been set which exempts companies manufacturing or importing less than 10 tonnes of taxable plastic per year. Further thresholds and exemptions are also forecasted to be put into place, however these are expected to be based on statistics gathered from one years’ monitoring of the policy. 

What happens next?

While the Plastic Packaging Tax was originally designed as a measure to reduce the amount of virgin plastics being manufactured and imported to the UK, some are now concerned about the knock-on effects that this may have on consumers. 

The UK government has stated that the Plastic Packaging Tax is “not expected to have any significant macroeconomic impacts” (UK Gov). However, the exact way in which the tax will play out within the commercial sector is yet to become clear, with expectations that the tax may be passed onto the consumer being discussed by multiple sources. 

This could be translated through an increase in the price of goods, a charge on plastic usage, or a number of other ways which could in turn lead to a shift in the way in which consumers purchase groceries and other items. 

Another major knock-on effect that the Plastic Packaging Tax has had is visible within the recycling sector. As a manufacturer of recycling equipment, at Rotajet we have witnessed firsthand the increase in interest for recycling plastic across the UK, with Company Director, Colin Steward, stating that he has seen an “unprecedented rise in demand for our machinery from plastic producers”.

Other leaders in the recycling industry have reportedly experienced a similar influx, which comes as no surprises as major companies such as Coca Cola and The Coop have recently pledged to move towards a greener way of packaging. For Coca Cola, this means achieving 100% recyclable packaging by 2025, with at least 50% of their plastic bottles being made from recycled plastic. On a similar trajectory, The Coop has also committed to using a minimum of 50% recycled plastic in PET plastic pots, trays, and punnets, and a minimum of 50% recycled HDPE for items like milk bottles by 2021. 

While a number of key details are still yet to become clear, the overarching goals for the Plastic Packaging Tax appear to have been well received by figure heads across the industry, with expectations that both the economic and environmental impacts of the measure will be a promising step in the right direction. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Plastic Packaging Tax to commence on 1st April 2022
• The tax is likely to impact: UK plastic manufacturers, importers, and possibly consumers
• The tax is to be enforced on any plastic packaging containing under 30% recycled material
• Plastics containing under 30% recycled material will be charged at £200 per tonne
• New legislation aims to incentivise a reduction in the manufacturing and use of virgin plastics
• The tax will only apply to companies handling over 10 tonnes of plastic packaging per year
• A one year review of data could lead to minor changes in the details of the policy, such as exemptions and thresholds defining who is liable to paying the plastic tax

To found out how our products can help you to prepare for the Plastic Packaging Tax, see our range of plastic recycling equipment here, or visit our dedicated site for Drum, IBC, and Small Container washing here.