Approximately 10%-12% of material sent to UK recycling centres, particularly food packaging made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is incinerated at “energy from waste” plants rather than turned into new products, according to a survey of local authorities by charity Recoup. The 36 incinerators in England produce the same amount of toxic particulates as 250,000 lorries, according to the UK Without Incineration Network. Incineration generates air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Recoup said this is happening due to a lack of specialist recycling facilities and that the problem is linked to last year’s decision by China to ban imports of foreign waste. The government has pledged to cut waste generation in half over five years, but it will take more time for councils to make up lost ground. Until recently, the UK sent about two-thirds of packaging waste overseas.
Approximately 10%-12% of material sent to UK recycling centres, particularly food packaging made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), 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. Recoup said this is happening due to a lack of specialist recycling facilities and that the problem is linked to last year’s decision by China to ban imports of foreign waste. The government has pledged to cut waste generation in half over five years, but it will take more time for councils to make up lost ground. Until recently, the UK sent about two-thirds of packaging waste overseas.