COVER STORY
WHAT HAS 2020 DONE TO COMMERCIAL RECYCLING?
The Love Recycling Research Project by Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) recently concluded its second research phase, a comprehensive investigation into the effect the pandemic has had on commercial recycling and waste management. Here, the company talks us through its findings.
In January, we launched the Love Recycling Research Project. Part one was designed to elicit overall insight into the state of commercial recycling within Europe and find ways for businesses to take control of their recycling activities. Through a detailed questionnaire, we asked businesses of all sizes about their recycling habits, provisions and aims. Our intention was to gain insight on what they see as the benefits of recycling, alongside the factors that inhibit them doing more.
The insights from this initial research gave us an interesting picture. Across the continent, commercial recycling ranked as the third highest priority for business, however, there was disparity between countries; within the Netherlands, commercial recycling ranks as the number one issue but in the UK, it languishes in fifth.
When asked specifically what stops them increasing recycling activities, businesses across different countries and sectors consistently cited shareholder disinterest, education shortfalls and the perception that recycling more costs more as barriers to improvement. To resolve these issues, most businesses look to government to provide more support in the form of education provisions, legislation and incentives.
24 | TOMORROW’S FM
On this latter point, the EU’s €750bn pandemic recovery package is part funded by a new plastic packaging waste tax that sees commercial operations taxed €800 per tonne. The incentivisation is clear, reduce your plastic waste output to reduce your tax liability.
The Love Recycling Research Project,
Part Two While undertaking the second part of the project, there has been much to consider that might have significant bearing on the continuity of our initial findings. For example, one of the first effects of the pandemic was for many recycling companies to stop their services due to health and safety concerns.
Although many businesses continued working throughout the pandemic, with staff furloughed or isolating at home and in the face of the constant threat of new infections, it’s inevitable that regular recycling tasks may have been neglected. Those employees responsible for recycling and waste management may have been among the absent, or assigned to other jobs, creating concern that recycling might have been pushed lower in the list of pandemic priorities.
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