UK NGO and private sector work together for mixed plastics recycling

Recent research by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) shows that recycling of domestic mixed plastics in the UK is environmentally and economically viable.

WRAP thus has started projects to examine how to better implement collection of mixed plastics, to sort and reprocess these plastics, as well as making plastics packaging more recyclable through the designing and manufacturing processes.

One of the projects initiated by WRAP is to support large scale trials to recycle mixed plastics from both households and retail take-back schemes. These mixed plastics will then be sorted and reprocessed back into new packaging and other high quality plastic materials.

The trials will be undertaken by a consortium, led by Nextek Ltd, and include Sainsbury's, Valpak, Bowman Process Technology, Closed Loop Recycling, Linpac and CeDo .

Eunomia and Resource Futures will assist in studying the most effective way to collect mixed plastics. WRAP will be engaging with all interested local authorities as this work develops, the organization says.