Towwards s a Rou ute

Maap for Plastic

Re
ecyclin ng: Cre eating
Circularityy for Pllastics in
Waales

e 2018
June

1
MR2
209 Version 2.0 This docum
ment is uncontrolled if printed
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Towards a Route Map for Plastic Recycling: Creating Circularity for Plastics in Wales

The Challenge
Wales leads the way in household recycling in the UK and is third in the rest
of the world1. However, along with the rest of the world, Wales is facing a
number of significant challenges concerning the manufacture, use and
disposal of plastics. Key to addressing these challenges is the adoption of
new initiatives and business models that retain plastics in economic use for
as long as possible and avoid escape into the environment. The plastics
value chain must collaborate to ensure that products and packaging placed
on the market are recyclable, easy to recover and reprocess and should
incorporate as high a % of recycled material as possible. This document,
produced by WRAP Cymru, is the first stage in the development of a Route
Map for improving the circularity of plastic in Wales.

The Route Map, to be published autumn of 2018, will focus on identifying

the opportunities and barriers acting on markets for recycled plastics in
Wales and propose actions and initiatives that can be undertaken by
industry, government, trade bodies and support organisations to increase
the circularity of plastics in the economy. The Route Map is intended to be a
practical, action-orientated document, developed in partnership with a wide
range of stakeholders. Key to delivery will be engagement and action from
stakeholders in the plastics value chain who are ready to embrace change
and able to adopt a ‘business unusual’ perspective. The Route Map will
include indicators to allow progress to be monitored. It will be a ‘living
document’ and will be reviewed periodically by the stakeholders, with
revisions and updates made in the light of new data, infrastructure, policy
or economic developments.

1
Recycling– Who Really Leads the World? Eunomia 2018
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Tow
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Map for Plastic
c Recycling: Crreating Circulariity for Plastics in
n Wales

Conten
nts

1.0 Wales Plastiic Facts 3

2.0 WRAP Cymrru’s Vision 4

3.0 Collection 5

4.0 Reprocessin
ng 6

5.0 Manufacturing 7

6.0 Green Publiic Procureme

ent (GPP) 8

7.0 Action Plann

ning 9
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Tow
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c Recycling: Crreating Circulariity for Plastics in
n Wales

1..0 Wa
ales Plastic
P c Factts Plastic Bottle Recycling Rate
es

UK Ave
erage Wales
W
Walles has achieve ed great succeess in recycling
g and has come ea
longg way in impro oving the recyc
cling of plastics from househ holds, 57%
% 75%
7
achieving a 75% recycling rate for
f plastic botttles. It was also
o the
firstt nation in the
e UK to introdu
uce a single usee carrier bag
charge. However, there’s still work to do. How
H much
y Statistics:
Key
household
h
plastic
p is
• 4
400,000 tonness per annum tottal plastic waste
e arising recycled?
r
• R
Reprocessing ca
apacity circa 55
5,000 tonnes pe
er annum

• 1
10% recycled pllastic used in manufacturing
m primarily packaging)2
(p

• A
Around 61% of collected plastiic waste is recyccled outside of

W
Wales.

Wh
here does W
Wales’ Plasttic Waste G
Go?

2
Plasstic Reprocessors and
d Manufacturers Welssh Mapping Exercise.. Databuild, Giraffe 2017 *from 2018 this is no longer the case as China has ba
anned plastic waste im
mports

Towards a Route Map for Plastic Recycling: Creating Circularity for Plastics in Wales
2.0 WRAP Cymru’s Vision
WRAP Cymru recommends that Wales should have long-term
aspirations to be self-sufficient in reprocessing capacity where
plastic waste does not leave the country without added value.
The opportunity exists to establish a circular economy model in Wales
where recycled plastics are highly sought-after for the manufacture of
products and packaging. This requires support from cost-effective, efficient
and consistent collection schemes with regional infrastructure for recycling
and reprocessing plastic and the capability to produce high quality recycled
materials for end users.
This should be achieved through improved monitoring and accountability of
plastic waste arisings, treatments and use in manufacturing, and phased
out export of low quality plastic waste.
04
This will also result in reduced leakage of plastic waste to the marine
environment, in particular through eliminating waste exports to countries
with poorer waste management practices and infrastructure.
WRAP Cymru recommends that by 2025 Wales should aim to:
 Achieve a fourfold growth in reprocessing capacity to around 200,000
tonnes per annum.
In order to do this, it should:
 achieve a 75% capture rate for plastics through local authority
collection services, with a consistent range of plastics collected;
 lead the way on capture of accurate and reliable waste data from all
sources;
 reduce plastic waste exported outside of Wales for recycling to 25%;
 meet the UK Plastics Pact3 targets for relevant organisations in Wales;
 lead the way in Green Public Procurement of plastic products;
 support and encourage the development of new business
opportunities, innovation and technologies throughout the plastics
value chain, supported through the Welsh Government Circular
Economy Fund; and,
 encourage and support collaboration between research institutes and
businesses to fully realise the benefits of using recycled plastics.
3
http://www.wrap.org.uk/content/the-uk-plastics-pact
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Towards a Route Map for Plastic Recycling: Creating Circularity for Plastics in Wales

3.0 Collection Non-household

Collection is the important point at which plastics can be
captured for recycling. It provides the input material for all
further processes, therefore it is critical that collection systems
are as efficient and effective as possible.
Household
Where is Wales now?
• 132,000 tonnes of plastic waste per annum arising from households
• 33% plastics recycling rate
• 75% bottles capture rate at kerbside
• 45% rigid food packaging capture rate at kerbside
• less than 6% retained for treatment in Wales
• 70% sent for treatment in UK
WRAP Cymru’s recommendation for Wales by 2025
Where is Wales now?
• Estimated at 266,000 tonnes per annum (including 8,000 tonnes
collected by local authorities); but
• Limited reliable and accurate reporting in place to track waste
generation on an annual basis.
WRAP Cymru recommends that by 2025 Wales should aim to:
Capitalise on Part 4 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 for separate
presentation of waste by:
• Implementing a system to track waste flows from non-
household sources with annual reporting; and,
• setting targets in line with households (with the possibility of
variance based on business type) once good reliable data is
available.

To explore options to achieve stretch targets for household plastics whilst

70%
maintaining a firm focus on quality of material

Type Incremental Goal Stretch Goal

Films 37% 60% 2025
Bottles 80% 92%
Rigid Food Packaging 60% 80% Vision
Other Plastics 37% 77%
Capture and recycling of all
Overall 48% 75% plastics in Wales
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Tow
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Map for Plastic
c Recycling: Crreating Circulariity for Plastics in
n Wales

4..0 Rep
proce
essing
g 


Over 80% of cu
urrent capacity iss at two large facilities

Only 18,000 to
onnes per annum
m is placed on the
e market from the
Rep
processing is th
he operationall activity that c
converts plastic reprocessors, the remainder being turned into products in-housse
wasste material to
o product (flake, pellet, granu
ulate etc) thatt can
 Very limited co
ompounding (ble
ending polymers to
t produce high
be u
used in manufafacturing to rep
place virgin raw material.
quality plasticss) activity is unde
ertaken
Encouraging the eexpansion of thhis industry in
n Wales is vital to a
achieving a successful plastics circular
c econommy. WRAP Cymru recom
mmends that by
b 2025 Wales should aim to;

Whe
ere is Wales no
ow?  phase out use of export marke
ets to less than 25%
2 with verified
auditable evidence provided to
o ensure materials are recycled;
Wale
es currently has a
around 55,000 to
onnes annual cap
pacity for plastic
reprrocessing. Figure
e 1 indicates the reprocessing
r desstinations for collected  enhance capaccity to reprocess 50% of the total plastic waste in
plasttics. Wales (i.e. circa 200,000 tonness);

 develop additional capacity to accept and repro

ocess plastic wastte

Figurre 1 : Reprocessing
g of Welsh Plastics Waste from other parts of the UK; and
d,

 achieve a repu
utation for excelle
ence in reprocesssing/compoundin
ng.

202
25
Vis
sion
50%
%
reprocesssing cap
pacity forr
plastic waste in Wales
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Tow
wards a Route M
Map for Plastic
c Recycling: Crreating Circulariity for Plastics in
n Wales

5..0 Ma
anufacturin
ng Figure 2 shows the pla
astics demand by
y sector in the EU
sectors has a significant presence in Wales
W
U. Each one of these
and should therefore be a fo
ocus
for targeted engagement.
Cen
ntral to the ach
hievement of the
t plastics circular economy y is
the use of recycle
ed material in manufacturing
m g. Increasing WRAP Cymru recom
mmends that by
b 2025 Wales should aim to;
mand in Wales for recycled material
dem m is therrefore critical;
 achieve 30% re
ecycled content in
i all plastic pack
kaging;
normalising the uuse of recycled content and cchallenging
misconceptions of low product quality are key y.  agree addition
nal industry led se
ector/product sp
pecific targets for
plastic products made in Waless;
Whe
ere is Wales no
ow?
 ng and products made in Wales ca
ensure that all plastic packagin an
• Plastic demand estimated to be around 500,000 tonnes per an
nnum
be feasibly reccyclable or reusab
ble; and,
with a GVA off £765 million an
nnually
• Drivers are la
acking for increassed use of recycle
ed material  require annual reporting, by manufacturers
m d importers, of virgin
and
• Recycling cap ently available in Wales to meet
pacity is not curre plastic and reccycled plastic volu
umes used in pro
oducts made in
additional de
emand Wales.

Figurre 2 : Plastics demand by manufacturing sector in the E

EU

20
025
Vision
V
3 %
30%
Recycled contentt for plasticc
packaging producced in Wale es
 08
Tow
wards a Route M
Map for Plastic
c Recycling: Crreating Circulariity for Plastics in
n Wales

6..0 Gre
een Public ding furniture, offfice and IT equipment, textiles, cle
includ
catering and food & drink provision, an
nd construction.
eaning products,,

Procurrement (GP PP) Wherre is Wales now

w?

 Public bodies are

a bound to dem
monstrate procurement is aligned
d
WRAAP Cymru reco ommends thatt the Welsh Gov vernment and d the
with the principle of sustainablle development
pub
blic sector shou uld take the le
ead by encouraaging circularitty in
 Green initiative e rather than policy
es are driven by individual choice
matterial use through the produ ucts and servic
ces they purcha ase.
 No specific inittiatives for plasticc products or pacckaging
Pub
blic spending oon products, se ervices and works amounted d to
 The Welsh Gov
vernment is curre
ently revising pro
ocurement policy
y and
£6billion in 2016, w
which is equiv oximately 10% of
valent to appro
its implementa
ation.
Wellsh GDP.
WRAP Cymru recom
mmends that by
b 2025 Wales should:
 mandate that all plastic produccts and packaging
g procured by pu
ublic
“[P
Procurement is]] the process whe
ereby organisatio
ons meet their
sector to be re
eusable, recyclable and to incorpo
orate recycled
ne
eeds for goods, se
ervices, works an
nd utilities in a wa
ay that achieves
content, where
ever technically possible;
p
va
alue for money on
n a whole life bassis in terms of ge
enerating
 achieve a colle
ection and recycliing rate of >90% of publicly procu
ured
be
enefits not only to on, but also to socciety and the
o the organisatio
plastics; and,
ecconomy, whilst m
minimising damag
ge to the environ
nment”
 set and achiev
ve recycled content targets for selected products.
Weelsh Public Procurrement Statementt (2015) categories.

The Well-being of Futture Generationss (Wales) Act 2015 requires publicc

bodiies to take account of the impact of their decisions on both the people
and the environmentt both now and in the future. Pub
dem
blic bodies can
ommitment to the well-being goals through Green
monstrate their co n
2025
2
Vision
V
>9
90%
Publlic Procurement, specifying goodss that are recycla
able and contain
collection
n and recyccling rate of
o
recyycled content, the
ereby reducing asssociated green h
house gas emissiions.
Opp
portunities exist a
across a wide ran
nge of procureme
ent categories publiclly procured
d plastics
 09
Towards a Route Map for Plastic Recycling: Creating Circularity for Plastics in Wales

7.0 Action Planning

The following are the key actions which form WRAP Cymru’s recommendations needed to achieve the vision of each sector.

Objective 2025 Target Summary of Action Responsible

Welsh
Government/WLGA/WRAP
Introduce a target for increased recycling of plastic household waste.
Cymru Collaborative
Change Programme (CCP)
Increase capture
Revise recommendations in the Collections Blueprint to require the
of plastics in 70% recycling
collection of a wider range of plastics; Costs may, in future, be offset by
household waste. Welsh Government
payments from producers under packaging Extended Producer
Responsibility (EPR).

Require producers to cover cost of collection and management of household Welsh Government/UK
plastic waste under EPR. wide EPR scheme

Increase capture
of plastics for Explore opportunities for extended commercial use of HWRCs in exchange Welsh Government
70% recycling
non-household for cost recovery charges. /WRAP Cymru (CCP)
waste

Explore potential for a tradable credit scheme for using secondary materials
Welsh Government/WRAP
Improve the 50% of all in manufacturing with the potential to link secondary materials use to the
Cymru
availability of plastics value of avoided carbon emissions.
quality recycled collected for
materials for use recycling Support the resource management and reprocessing sector to develop
in products and reprocessed plastic recycling capacity utilising the Welsh Government Circular Economy
Welsh Government/WRAP
packaging. in Wales Fund (available 2019/20) focusing on providing supporting for innovative
Cymru
technologies and business models.
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Towards a Route Map for Plastic Recycling: Creating Circularity for Plastics in Wales

Objective 2025 Target Summary of Action Responsible

Develop and implement design standards for key plastic packaging/products

30%
Significantly (with a view to eliminating unsuitable design choices). Welsh
recycled
increase the use
content in Encourage sign up of key manufacturing and packaging producers to the UK Government/NRW/WRAP
of recycled Cymru
plastic Plastics Pact (PP). Engage industry sector bodies to develop and deliver
plastics in
packaging sector/product specific targets for recycled content.
manufacturing in
produced in
Wales Require the reporting by manufacturers and importers of the amount of
Wales Welsh Government/NRW
virgin and recycled plastic used in products made in Wales.

The Welsh >90% To eliminate, through green public procurement (GPP), all non-recyclable
Government to Collection materials and products (including plastics) arising from public sector
lead by example purchases. Welsh Government/NPS
and recycling
by sustainable Wales/Value Wales/WRAP
rate of
procurement of Cymru
publicly To identify and evaluate opportunities to specify minimum % of recycled
products and procured content across targeted spend categories.
services. plastics

Enforce and publicise the EU 'essential requirements': allow for public

challenge through social media regarding a) recyclability b) excessive Welsh Government/NRW
packaging.

Welsh Government/NPS
To provide guidance for all procurers (LA’s, government. and private sector)
Cross-cutting measures – Wales/Value Wales/WRAP
on procuring to deliver high recycled content and recyclability of goods.
measures that support multiple Cymru
targets
Evaluate options to implement a carbon-related performance target for
Welsh Government/WLGA
energy from waste (EfW); thereby incentivising plastics recycling.

Develop a system of electronic reporting of waste quantities arising from

Welsh Government/Defra
non-household sources to allow for capture and processing of waste data.

WRAP’s vision is a world in which
resources are used sustainably.
Our mission is to accelerate the
move to a sustainable resource-
efficient economy through re-
inventing how we design, produce
and sell products; re-thinking how
we use and consume products; and
re-defining what is possible
through re-use and recycling.
Find out more at
www.wrapcymru.org.uk
Written by: WRAP Cymru with technical support from
Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd
Funded by: Welsh Government’s core grant funding
wrapcymru.org.uk/routemap
@WRAP_Cymru
Company Registration No: 4125764 and
Charity No: 1159512
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