FEATURE
industry is quite robust; pre-COVID volumes for recycling were good."
it’s not that the industry is slow to recover, we just rely on external forces.”
Her sentiment is echoed by Helen Crapnell, HR Manager at Sackers Scrap Metal & Waste Recycling, who says the industry still has a long way to go.
adds, recalling the days of Operation Tornado - when a metal theft taskforce existed and the act was fully enforced.
Rolled out in the new year of 2012, Operation Tornado aimed to reverse the rise in metal theft by asking UK scrap dealers to sign up to voluntary identification measures. More than 86% of dealers participated, providing proof of identity to help crack down on crime by unlicensed dealers.
What the industry needs now, Antonia continued, is enforcement, which might only happen if thefts continue to rise.
“I am hopeful that, as the metal theft data are readjusted and looked at more carefully and the police services continue to work and focus on this crime, we will begin to see more enforcement,” she says, adding: “Because thefts are still going up -
and I think they will continue to go up as we walk into a recession - we might see some action and more enforcement.”
Looking forward Despite the challenges around metal theft and crime, the industry remains resilient as it awaits a return to pre-COVID waste levels. The flow of materials constricted over the summer and while things are moving in the right direction, levels haven’t yet caught up.
“People aren’t buying new cars and they’re not buying new dishwashers or washing machines - they’re being careful because they don’t know what the economic situation is, so we’re not back up to pre-lockdown values by any means,” Antonia says.
“We’re reliant on consumer behaviour being back up to pre-lockdown levels, so
“The metal recycling industry is quite robust; pre-COVID volumes for recycling were good. During lockdown it was a very challenging period while the industry was an essential service. Volumes were limited to buy.
“Post-lockdown volumes have almost recovered but we have long way to go until we are back to 100%.”
Next on the list of challenges to face is Brexit, and there’s no predicting how talks will pan out as (at the time of writing) the deadline approaches. “It’s hard to say how Brexit will affect things,” Antonia continues. “I don’t think really anyone knows what will come in January, whether we will leave with or without a deal.”
Much is yet to be agreed; for the industry in particular there are questions around VAT liability and notifiable waste shipments, but only time will tell how - and if - Brexit will affect the industry’s recovery as it continues to tackle the issues of rising metal theft and the ongoing impact of COVID-19.
The metal recycling
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