Efficient markets, effective collection, legislation and investment came under the spotlight at a recent strategic workshop held by British Glass and WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) for …
Efficient markets, effective collection, legislation and investment came under the spotlight at a recent strategic workshop held by British Glass and WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) for key players in the glass sector. Gathered for the first time to explore the possibilities of a more cohesive approach to glass recycling, glass collectors, re-processors, aggregates companies and packaging manufacturers met at British Glass“ offices in Sheffield, northern England to participate in an open debate about the challenges and opportunities in glass recycling. Sheila McKinley, head of the Producer Responsibility Unit at DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), began by providing the legislative context and highlighted the importance of meeting the 2008 glass recycling target if the UK is to hit the overall Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive targets. British Glass and Valpak presented an update on current performance and future targets and outlined the challenges posed by industry trends such as mixed collections and the UK“s growing taste for wine (around 1.3 billion bottles of wine are imported annually, weighing in at an estimated 600,000 tonnes of mainly green glass.) WRAP“s market development work was then outlined along with the financial support packages available from WRAP“s Business Development Team. Evidence of successful R&D work were illustrated by case studies from CERAM and RMC highlighting the positive outcome of trials using glass as a fluxing agent in brick manufacture and full scale use of glass as an aggregate in “Glassphalt“, a road base product that is enjoying considerable market uptake. Delegates and speakers then took part in an interactive workshop. Two of the key priorities to emerge were the need to ensure that commercially viable end markets are available and to ensure that the right type of glass reaches the right markets. The workshop highlighted a wide range of action areas, including standards, quality issues, the PRN system, commercial glass collections and colour segregated versus mixed collections. In total, six priority areas were identified which will now be the focus of future joint activity between WRAP, British Glass and other attendees. Describing the workshop as “a real success”, Andrew Hartley, British Glass Director of Strategy and Communications added: “It was rewarding and refreshing to see issues being pulled apart and new possibilities being discussed. To witness the clear appetite for this type of cross market and cross supply chain forum to continue to develop was heartening. While we must not underestimate the severe challenges ahead for glass recycling and market development in particular, the dialogue begun here is a fundamental first step to future successes.” WRAP“s Andy Dawe added: “The primary objective of WRAP is to develop new, sustainable markets for recycled materials. In the case of glass, new markets are now completing their development stage and have the capacity to absorb significant future tonnages.” “We want to ensure that the development of these markets works to maximise the amount of glass that the UK recycles and this workshop was a key part of that process.”