Mixed plastic items can now be recycled cost-effectively
December 24, 2008 at 11:28 am
Plastic made from mixed materials accounts for 45 billion wasted items each year. The failure to recycle these items as much as other recyclables has traditionally been excusable as never being cost-effective to do so.
However, research by the Waste Recycling and Action Programme (WRAP) has found that recycling mixed plastic items could save a substantial amount of money in landfill taxes and manufacturing.
“This is the first time that we have been able to prove that recycling mixed plastics is not only possible, but cost-effective and makes good environmental sense. The amount of plastic packaging we see in our bins is frustrating, as there is currently nothing most of us can do about it,” said Liz Goodwin, CEO for WRAP, who unveiled the research for the first time at a high-level conference of industry professionals on Thursday.
“This new research is a first step towards getting that plastic out of the household bin and back in use. This will reduce the need for us to use large amounts of energy producing new plastics and the oil required in their content.”
WRAP wanted to see if it made financial sense to recycle mixed instead of burning it or sending it to landfill. The research also looked at the effect on the environment in each different scenario. WRAP’s mission statement is to help individuals, businesses and local authorities to reduce waste and recycle more, making better use of resources and helping to tackle climate change.
We have been working on recycling the plastic. One of my friend Meenamba is collecting the waste plastic and make it into household particles like purse, mobile phone cover. I am planning to implement that in my University. If you have any suggestion please send me.
I believe that everyone should recycle and make the world a better place to live and if you don’t recycle you are breaking the ozone layer that help us not to frazzle.
So whoever you are reading this comment, make sure you get yourself and every body around you to recycle.
Interesting site. I am not a commercial concern – just a householder who hates to see anything go to landfill. Do you have collection sites near Cwmbran for plastics (yoghurt pots, margarine boxes, inhalant cases etc.? I hoard them as long as I can,but they are piling up now, and I do not want to put them in the landfill bin.
I do putt food packing in the landfill bin as it piles up too quickly and is more of a health hazard. Would be interested in avoiding this too.
Can you help?
Ken Davies