TRADE NEWS FEATURE
Scotch Whisky Association sets a 2020 deadline for zero waste
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has vowed zero Scotch whisky general waste will go to landfi ll by 2020. This comes as a response to whisky packaging being named in the top fi ve recycling ‘nightmare’ list by independent waste recyclers, The Recycling Association (TRA).
The list is part of a report compromising the most challenging items for waste plants to recycle, due to a combination of materials which are diffi cult to separate either by consumers, or by staff at a recycling facility.
By Sam McKeown
A combination of factors such as the metal found on a bottle cap, along with metal and cardboard on the outer tube, means whisky packaging often has to be processed manually – as the fusing of metal with other materials, causes confusion to computer scanning systems used by waste and recycling plants.
Simon Ellin, CEO of TRA said: “A lot of whisky providers do have infi nitely recyclable bottles, but some companies, such as Laphroaig and Glenfi ddich, sit their bottles within an outer casing tube with a thick metal bottom plate merely for presentation value.
“This is similar to a Pringles’ tube, which also provides a metal- cardboard fuse problem. The plate is bonded to cardboard, making these products an abject nightmare to recycle.”
The Recycling Association fi rmly believes there is no excuse for companies to produce unrecyclable designs, and these designs are frustrating for onward recycling companies.
The report from TRA coincides with The Plastics Economy Innovation Prize, a new £1.5 million initiative launched by Prince Charles and promoted by The Ellen MacArthur Foundation. This encourages innovative designers to tackle the issue head on; aiding recycling plants and facilities, which deal with packaging problems from certain products.
Scotch Whisky Association’s Head of Communications, Rosemary Gallagher said: “Our aim is to use resources for as
long as possible, extracting maximum value from them and recovering and regenerating materials.
“By 2020 no [Scotch whisky] general waste will go to landfi ll, compared with 13% in 2008.”
A spokesperson from spirits producer Gordon & McPhail said: “We have in the past used cardboard-metal fuse packaging, but all of our packaging is cardboard boxes – even for the single bottles.
“As a company we’re responsible for what we use and even have an in-house Green G roup to look at our waste, and what we use for environmental purposes.”
Kellogg’s (who produce Pringles) and Britvic have off ered to work with TRA to provide advice about product packaging which can be recycled.
TRA CEO Simon added: "Instead of using metal for the base, cardboard could be used instead which would be just as strong.
“As long as the base material is integral to the tube, there is no problem whatsoever.”
DUMFRIES & Galloway Council had to shell out £300,000 from the public purse in storage fees for waste bins and recycling equipment, writes SAM MCKEOWN.
The bins were bought for a national multi- bin collection system due to roll out across Dumfries and Galloway. But the new kerbside service was hit by a series of problems and currently only operates in Wigtownshire.
Archie Dryburgh, Scottish Labour Party Chairman of Dumfries & Galloway’s Environment said: “We weren’t in administration when this started – it was a Tory-led local government.
“We took over and dealt with many issues such as manual handling. So, we wanted
@SkipHireMag
Council forked out £300k storing unused containers
to make sure everything was properly done in Wigtownshire, before spreading the recycling trial to other areas.”
A council report stated there were no suitable council facilities available to house the containers, and the authority rented a hanger from Dumfriesshire meat company, Brown Brothers Ltd.
25-year contract cancelled
Conservative councillor, Ian Carruthers, who was part of the decision-making process, said: “In 2012, there was in-year grant funding from the Scottish government, which we’d lose if we didn’t claim it.
“We applied to buy recycling containers because European legislation made us move
from a single-bin to a multi-bin collection – but it has been a waste of tax payer's money.”
Councillors are being asked to agree an additional 12-month lease of the premises at a fi xed-price of £50,000.
In 2007, Dumfries & Galloway Council signed a 25-year contract with the Italian Eco Deco recycling plant, where extracted metal, stone, wood, paper, plastic, and heated residue, was sent to be used as fuel for cement production.
The 25-year contract was then cancelled as the plant’s extraction methods did not qualify as recycling according to Scottish government rules. This led to the decision to buy the recycling containers in 2012.
SHM July, 2017 9
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