Procurement data for UK recycling collection services shows that over half of UK councils opted for kerbside sorting in recent years, according to a report published by consultants 4R Environmental.
Based on tenders that took place between 2008 and 2012, the report findings show that 51 per cent of decisions were for kerbside sort, 28 per cent were awarded to single-stream commingling and 21 per cent selected a two-stream system. The report points out, however, that many local authorities included in the data had placed restrictions on the types of collection considered for these tenders. It goes on to note that when systems were tested in open competition, kerbside sorting was selected 59 per cent of the time, followed by two-stream systems (31 per cent) and single-stream options (10 per cent).
Commenting on the results, the report’s author Andy Bond said: “Senior managers at local authorities who are considering their procurement options might be surprised by these findings and that they will almost certainly benefit from allowing the most open procurement system rather than prescribing this at the outset.
“The evidence from competitive procurements is that single stream is not as economically competitive as other collection systems. Previous work undertaken by WRAP on collection systems and more recently, the work commissioned by the Welsh Government and the choices set out in their ‘Collections Blueprint’ are borne out by the evidence derived from the outcomes of real-world procurement."
Currently, much of the interest surrounding Defra’s consultation on revisions to the Waste Regulations 2011 concerns the requirement that separate collection of recyclables should be ‘technically, environmentally and economically practicable’. Bond believes that this research, based on ‘real-life evidence’, is likely to ‘challenge some preconceptions that commingling is the cheapest option’.
He added: “Interestingly there is increasing evidence from North America that also suggests that the claims of cheaper domestic recycling delivered by single-stream systems has not proved to be the case and the reprocessors have much the same complaint about quality as those in our domestic economy.”
For further information and to obtain the full report, visit www.4renvironmental.co.uk//Pages/PressReleases.aspx
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
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.