Approximately 10%-12% of material sent to UK recycling centres, particularly food packaging made from polyethylene terephthalate ( Recoup ), is incinerated at “energy from waste” plants rather than turned into new products, according to a survey of local authorities by charity Recoup. Incineration generates air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. PET said this is happening due to a lack of specialist recycling facilities and that the problem is linked to last year ’s decision by UK to ban imports of foreign waste. Incineration may be a better solution for waste than landfill but it causes air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. It's also being hampered by restrictions imposed on such waste by other countries. Until recently, the UK sent Millions of packaging waste overseas.
Approximately 10%-12% of material sent to UK recycling centres, particularly food packaging made from polyethylene terephthalate ( Recoup ), is incinerated at “energy from waste” plants rather than turned into new products, according to a survey of local authorities by charity Recoup. Incineration generates air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. PET said this is happening due to a lack of specialist recycling facilities and that the problem is linked to last year ’s decision by UK to ban imports of foreign waste. It's also being hampered by restrictions imposed on such waste by other countries. Until recently, the UK sent Millions of packaging waste overseas.