Plastics 2020 takes on the recycling challenge set out by PIRAP and offers its support for ‘pledge4plastics’
9 September 2014
Association News September 2014
Plastics 2020 takes on the recycling challenge set out by PIRAP and offers its support for 'pledge4plastics'
Plastics 2020 partners (BPF, PAFA and Plastics Europe) are pleased to announce that they intend to adopt the work programme known as PIRAP (Plastics Industry Recycling Action Plan) and develop it further into a detailed action plan to help industry move toward the 2017 plastics recycling targets required by UK government.
PIRAP which was formed to identify actions required to improve plastic recycling in the UK has until recently been chaired by WRAP and has brought together a total of 48 stakeholders from government and business including all Plastics 2020 members.
Plastics 2020, aided by WRAP, will now seek support from a wide range of stakeholders including brands, retailers, Local Authorities, waste management companies, UK central government departments and agencies, as well as their own industry members and recyclers in order to turn this framework document into specific actions to help secure the increased tonnages that will be needed if plastics recycling is to be elevated to the requisite level in the UK.
At present in the UK far too much recyclable plastic material is sent to landfill which is a waste of valuable resource. The PIRAP programme has highlighted a number of areas where improvements could be made to enhance collection rates, adopt best-in-class collection methods, optimise sorting infrastructure and develop end markets.
However, it must be emphasised that to reach the UK recycling targets for 2017 - and the recent European Commission proposals for even higher targets - will require urgent action by all stakeholders and a step change in all of these areas.
In a joint statement, the partners said, "The UK has made tremendous progress in recent years and the Plastics 2020 Consortium believe that if we can further improve infrastructure links and engender closer working relationships between all the relevant stakeholders, a vibrant recycling business sector, producing high quality products and additional jobs, will continue to develop within the UK".
The Recoup programme 'Pledge4Plastics' (http://www.pledge4plastics.co.uk/) announced today will play an important part in helping councils to convince consumers to do the right thing and ensure that they proactively recycle the plastics packaging they use.
Plastics 2020 strongly supports the 'Pledge4Plastics' campaign as part of their wider commitment to help recover more recyclable plastic packaging through the mobilisation of a wide range of stakeholders.
ENDS
Social Media Pages
The Twitter and Facebook pages are live and can be found at:
Twitter (@pledge4plastics)
Facebook (pledge4plastics
For further information please contact:
PAFA: Barry Turner - 0115 959 8389 barry.turner@pafa.org.uk
BPF: Philip Law and Laura Hindley - 0207 457 5043 lhindley@bpf.co.uk
PlasticsEurope: Kim Christiansen - 07432 297615 kim.christiansen@plasticseurope.org
Plastics 2020: Adrian Whyle - +32 (0) 2 792 75 08 Adrian.whyle@plasticseurope.org
Twitter: @plastics2020
