RECOUP publications aim to improve industry knowledge of packaging sorting and recycling processes

Plastics resource efficiency and recycling charity, RECOUP, have released their latest set of case studies ‘MRF Processes – Understanding Material Sorting’ and ‘Packaging Design Principles – Small Changes for a Big Impact.’

‘MRF Processes – Understanding Material Sorting’ intends to educate readers about how packaging placed in kerbside collections gets detected and sorted by material recovery facilities (MRF), from the entrance hall, right through to the final baled materials. The case study looks at common issues such as the recycling of small items, which can get lost early in the process and end up with the glass recycling fraction, as well as a detailed breakdown of how near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) is used to determine which polymers packaging is made from to capture the packs for recycling.

‘Packaging Design Principles – Small Changes for a Big Impact’ is aimed at individuals new to the packaging industry and covers many design principles to improve the recyclability of plastics packaging at the design stage.  It covers the important components of packaging  for recyclability including the use of additives and barriers, adhesives, labels, and colourants, to help packaging designers make informed decisions.

Richard Cham, Senior Packaging and Recyclability Projects Officer at RECOUP said, ‘We often get asked about the processes that happen at the sorting stage, the MRF case study will assist stakeholders to understand the reality of how packaging is sorted and the implications design can have on the detection of different polymers.’

Paul East, Head of Packaging Recycling and Design at RECOUP said, ‘The sorting process at the MRF is a crucial link in the recycling chain. The Case Study illustrates how following design guidelines such as RECOUP’s Recyclability by Design, increases the likelihood  a pack will get sorted correctly.’

The case studies are accessible on the RECOUP website now for members and will become publicly available in 3 months. RECOUP also offers their members access to their laboratory testing facilities, including materials recovery facility sorting trials, free of charge to help packaging designers and brands to make informed decisions on pack design for recyclability. If you would like to find out more about RECOUP membership, then contact membership@recoup.org

For those seeking more in-depth information about the plastics resource and recycling value chain, registrations for RECOUP’s, not-to-be- missed annual conference, to be held on Thursday 26 September, are now open.

The plastics resource and recycling value chain event of the year sees hundreds of delegates in attendance and draws together stakeholders, NGOs, Local and National Government bodies and organisations from across the plastics and wider sustainability value chain, to network and share best practice.

To book your place at The RECOUP Conference 2024, please visit the RECOUP website, www.recoup.org

County Durham school recycling design competition

RECOUP’s Pledge2Recycle Plastics has joined forces with Durham County Council to launch a county-wide plastics recycling communications and education project. This initiative aims to encourage more County Durham residents to recycle and elevate the quality of plastic packaging recycled in the region through household collections.

As part of the project, a school recycling design competition, funded by the British Plastics Federation and local reprocessing firm Marmax Recycled Products, has been launched. The competition aims to continue to build on positive attitudes and behaviours in relation to recycling whilst at the same time finding creative solutions to recycling challenges.

Children and young people are invited to design a way for people to sort and recycle more items in one of a range of settings:

Bathrooms: to increase recycling of plastic items like shampoo and shower gel bottles, which in County Durham can be recycled at home in the blue-lidded bin

Kitchens: to increase recycling of pots, tubs and trays that come with food, which in County Durham can be recycled at home in the blue-lidded bin

Schools: to increase recycling of food and drinks bags & wrappings, which can be recycled at large supermarkets

Sports venues: to increase recycling of food and drink bags & wrappings, which can be recycled at large supermarkets

The winning design will be produced by Marmax Recycled Products and made from pre-formed recycled plastic sheets and planks which can be cut, shaped, drilled, and screwed together. The planks are 9cm wide and 3cm deep. Participants can find out more and submit their entries at https://www.durhamrecycles.co.uk/schools-competition/. The closing date for entries is 23^rd February 2024.

All pupils who enter the competition will receive a certificate of participation, whilst winners will receive a book token, goodie bag as well as the opportunity to see their design go into production at the Marmax Recycled Products factory. The winner’s school will also win new outdoor furniture made from recycled plastic, up to a value of £900 for their school playground such as stages, seating, picnic benches, water tables or table tennis table!

Cllr Mark Wilkes, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “We are pleased to continue working in partnership with RECOUP to encourage and educate more people around recycling. Each year, the average household uses over 1,000 items – from plastics to cans – but less than half of this is recycled. It’s important we recycle as much as we can because, for every item recycled, we reduce the need to use raw materials, helping save energy and resources.

“Getting our schools involved in this project is also key as it enables us to encourage children to think creatively about how we can recycle more and helps them set environmentally positive habits.”

A spokesperson for Marmax Recycled Products said

“As we manufacture all our outdoor furniture from recycled plastic, and many schools in the region have our products on site, it’s really important for us to support projects like this. If our children have recycling at the forefront of their minds, and can see first hand the positive outcome of recycling, then a sustainable future for our region and beyond is more likely. I look forward to being involved in the judging and seeing what they come up with!”

A spokesperson for the British Plastics Federation said:

“The British Plastics Federation is very pleased to be involved in this competition. Children and young people are really motivated when it comes to protecting the environment and have great, fresh ideas. We look forward to seeing their designs.”

The project is supported by Durham County Council, The British Plastics Federation, Biffa, and Marmax Recycled Products.