Charting the Course: British Glass and WRAP unveil Roadmap to recycle 90% glass by 2030

UK – British Glass, in partnership with WRAP, has unveiled an exhaustive roadmap delineating the necessary strides to attain a 90% glass recycling capture rate by 2030 while bolstering closed-loop recycling.

This ambitious endeavor seeks to elevate the UK’s glass recycling endeavors, advocating sustainability and circular economy principles within the glass packaging sector to establish a genuine closed-loop recycling system.

Entitled “A Roadmap to Closed Loop Glass Recycling,” the report furnishes an intricate examination of prevailing glass recycling practices in the UK, utilizing the most recent data available to pinpoint areas necessitating improvement.

Notably, while the UK boasts a glass recycling rate exceeding 75%, substantial untapped potential persists, with roughly 600,000 tonnes of glass lost to residual waste annually.

The roadmap underscores the pivotal shift away from commingling materials towards segregated glass collections, recognizing this as a pivotal enabler for enhancing cullet quality and fostering closed-loop recycling.

Furthermore, it underscores the imperative of reducing the frequency and capacity of residual waste collections to incentivize recycling behavior among consumers.

A pivotal insight from the report is the demonstrable success of segregated collection schemes, epitomized by the Welsh Collections Blueprint.

Through the implementation of efficient curbside separated sort systems, Wales has achieved one of Europe’s highest recycling rates, with 92% of household glass disposed of in recycling boxes.

Dr. Nick Kirk, Technical Director at British Glass, remarked on the roadmap, stating, “Achieving a minimum 90% glass recycling capture rate is paramount to cultivating a sustainable future for the glass industry.

“This roadmap furnishes a strategic framework to steer stakeholders in the glass supply chain toward this ambitious yet attainable goal if the report’s recommendations are executed.

“We urge local authorities and government bodies to continue collaborating with us and WRAP; support and cooperation are pivotal in ensuring correct and efficient glass collection and recycling, and this report serves as an excellent foundation.”

The report also underscores the significance of communication campaigns to heighten awareness among consumers and businesses regarding the benefits of glass recycling.

By enhancing consumer knowledge, British Glass aims to optimize glass capture rates and advance the transition towards a circular economy.

As the UK gears up to implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations and other legislative measures aimed at augmenting resource efficiency, British Glass remains steadfast in supporting stakeholders to navigate these changes and harness the full potential of glass recycling.

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