SMART DESIGNS, SMART RECYCLING


Viewpoint


It’s been five months since our last MRF supplement and we are still waiting to hear


from Defra on when it will announce its decision on the proposed code of practice. Across the industry, opin- ions differ about whether the code of practice should be mandatory or voluntary. However, most seem to think a mandatory code should be implemented.


The Environmental Services Association has been working on a proposed code and on page 20 David Sher explains why a mandatory code is the best way forward.


Nick Warburton, Editor


Plastics optimisation will be focus for 2012, predicts recycling expert


Plastics recycling tonnages will be a key focus this year, a lead- ing UK resource and recovery specialist has predicted. With UK plastic bottle recy- cling rates nudging 50% for drink and dairy bottles, Keith Freegard, director of Axion Consulting, believes further investment in technology to extract a wider range of materi- als from mixed plastic collec- tions offers major potential. “Collection data points to a huge untapped source of rigid, non-bottle packaging items becoming available as local authorities offer collections of more household plastics, as well as an often-ignored, high vol- ume of post-consumer films.” Greater emphasis on rigid post-consumer plastic packag-


ing and films could also lead to more “co-ordinated” approach- es in overcoming the challenges presented by these more diffi- cult-to-recycle waste streams, he says.


While full mixed plastics collections are popular with local authorities, they can only realistically be initiated when processing infrastructure is in place, otherwise recovery of the materials that are currently targeted will actually decrease, warns Freegard.


“Today’s primary sort- ing material recovery facili- ties (MRFs) and bottle-sorting plastic recovery facilities were developed in response to PET and HDPE recyclate demand,” he says. “Next-generation infrastructure must be capable


of extracting value from other rigid plastics and films if we are to achieve higher overall plastic packaging recycling targets.” Freegard is confident that 2012 will see increasing impor- tance placed on MRF optimi- sation, including the use of sophisticated modelling, sam- pling and analysis services. Another solution he suggests


would be to build more inte- grated “resource parks” where varied and mixed waste streams can be processed in comple- mentary ways.


Freegard says residual mate- rials from sorting co-mingled waste streams could be used as an energy source to provide local heat and power for adja- cent washing and reprocessing units.


Which route to take on materials recycling – workshop debate


The future direction of material recycling facilities (MRFs) will be debated at a day-long event in north Wales next month. Organised by Envirolink, Updating material recycling facilities technology:


which


route to take? will take place on 3 April at the UPM Shotton MRF in Deeside, Flintshire. The key question posed at the industry event is: does the technology used in the MRF process make a difference to the quality of material pro- duced, including consideration of mechanical sorting versus hand picking?


Craig Robinson, director of


RCP market and operations (UK and Ireland), will kick off by talking about UPM Shotton and why the paper mill decided to build its own MRF.


Brian Gist, sales engineer,


Titech UK, will then look at the specific technology at the Deeside plant.


Roger Morton, director of Axion Consulting, will follow by providing a technical presen- tation on how to get the most out of a MRF, including how to optimise its potential while making small-scale improve- ments.


There will also be presen- tations from Stephen Spencer, national MRF manager at Veolia Environmental Services, on updating an existing MRF and from Kevin Thomas, direc- tor, MRF operations, at Casepak on its new Leicester facility and the technology used.


The day will close with an optional site tour of the UPM Shotton MRF.


www.envirolink.co.uk 18 Local Authority Waste & Recycling March 2012


Casepak’s new Leicester MRF October MRF supplement


The materials recovery industry is still very much in its infancy but faces huge challenges as the UK looks to increase municipal recycling rates. As the range of materials targeted for collection expands, sorting technology must become more intelligent. With a decision on the proposed code of practice expected in the coming months, and new state-of-the-art facilities opening for business, LAWR is interested to hear from industry experts on where the MRF sector is heading and the challenges for the future. Copy deadline for the October supplement is 27 August.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56