A Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) report, commissioned by WRAP and carried out by Eunomia Research & Consulting, has added fuel to the kerbside sort versus commingled debate. ‘Kerbside Collection Options: Wales’ examines the relative economic and environmental merits of different types of kerbside dry recycling collections. It concludes that at the moment, commingled collections are 4.3 per cent more expensive than kerbside sort, but that in an optimised scenario, where 70 per cent of waste is diverted, the disparity jumps to 22 per cent. What’s more, commingled collections currently result in 13.3 per cent more emissions than kerbside sort, but, again, that figure would jump to 24.4 per cent with greater recycling.
Environment Minister Jane Davidson, who will be standing down at the forthcoming WAG elections, said: “Reaching [70 per cent] recycling will not be easy... That’s why all our decisions must be based on evidence, and why I am committed to building upon and sharing this evidence base.”
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.