Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) statistics listed in the European Recovered Paper Council’s (ERPC’s) ‘Monitoring Report 2011’ show that the European paper recycling rate pushed through the 70 per cent mark in 2011, hitting a high of 70.4 per cent, up from 2010’s rate of 68.7 per cent.
According to the report released on Thursday (11 October), the total amount of paper collected and recycled in the paper sector remained at 58 million tonnes (as in previous years), though 9.2 million tonnes of this was sent for recycling to countries outside of the EU-27, Norway and Switzerland.
Figures listed in the report also showed that 13 European countries exceeded the 70 per cent recycling rate, with 12 countries achieving less than 60 per cent and all countries collectively reducing CO2 levels by 40 per cent (from a 1990 baseline figure). Europe is also listed as the global leader in paper recycling in the report, with North America being the only other continent to break the 60 per cent recycling rate.
The ERPC report also notes research by CEPI that shows that paper and board were the most recycled packaging in Europe in 2010, closely followed by steel (71 per cent), glass (68 per cent) and aluminium (64 per cent).
The data comes from a combination of information obtained from a questionnaire sent by CEPI to its national member associations and from data obtained from Pöyry Consulting on behalf of the EU countries that are not CEPI members.
Writing in the report, the EPRC said: ‘Paper recycling is truly an industry “made in Europe” unlike any other and – in line with EU policies – should be safeguarded to remain so. Where the paper industry was a pioneer in recycling – implementing a recycling society in Europe decades before the term was coined – it is now taking the challenge of using even more carefully not only fibres but all the materials we have in our hands: even rejects from paper recycling can still become a valuable resource. This project, applying industrial symbiosis, is taking shape in the paper industry.’
According to the report, paper fibre was recycled 3.4 times on average in Europe in 2011.
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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.