subject: Need-to-know Guide On Uk Plastic Recycling Compliance [print this page] In order to meet its carbon footprint targets, the UK Government is steadily introducing more stringent rules relating to recycling plastic. This means that businesses are coming under increasing pressure to "go Green".
The following guide will outline key facts related to plastic recycling to help your business understand what it needs to do to meet the updated regulations.
The New Quality Protocol for Non-packaging Plastics Explained
The UK Environment Agency has published a guideline for the protocols that should regulate the recycling of non-packaging plastic, since this allows them to be efficiently recycled and
re-used as a secondary raw material.
Increasingly, businesses in Britain are being called upon to report their carbon emission levels as mandatory or face strong penalty fines, and industry analysts predict that similar guidelines for plastic recycling and its use will also be introduced in the future.
These regulatory protocols are highly important since they demonstrate the quality of recycled plastics to give businesses confidence in buying them. Complying with quality standards also means that companies will no longer need to adhere to clunky waste control rules, such as using waste transfer notes during the transport of certain materials.
Formulated to boost business productivity as well as to encourage the uptake of secondary raw materials, the Quality Protocol (for non-packaging plastics) outlines the manufacturing criteria when recycling this type of plastic waste.
The initiative has the objective of:
"Solidifying a Quality Protocol that identifies the point at which plastic waste, having undergone a complete recovery process (recycling), may become a non-waste product or material that can either be re-used by businesses or supplied to other market sectors without the need for waste management controls.
"Producing clear regulations that inform the business community as to what legal obligations they must comply with when using recycled plastics.
Meeting these goals will ensure that recycled plastics can then be used without harming humans or the environment. In addition, the Quality Protocol describes how compliance results in good practice when recycling plastics to offer increased market confidence in the quality of products made from this type of waste, so that further recycling is encouraged.
Compliance to the Quality Protocol
Secondary raw materials recovered from non-packaging plastics will no longer be regarded as waste (and thus no longer subject to previous waste management regulations) if they:
"Have been processed in accordance with all the requirements of the related European and British Standards.
"Meet the additional requirements specified by the customer.
"Have been supplied to the customer for use in an accepted plastics manufacturing process.
"Have been provided to the customer with a Quality Protocol Safety Data Sheet which comprehensively explains the required information about the waste material.
Completing the Quality Protocol Safety Data Sheet
The information that your company will need to supply in order to fill out the Safety Data Sheet for Quality Protocol compliance includes:
"Company and product info.
"Regulatory and toxicological data.
"The proposed use of the recycled material (including recommended end-use applications).
"Health & Safety measures.
"Handling and storage considerations.
"Transportation info.
"Disposal details.
To learn more about the Quality Protocol for Recycling Non-Packaging Plastics, visit the Environment Agency website.
Benefits of Recycled Plastic
Plastic is a substance which does not biodegrade easily in nature and is thus terrible for the environment when sent to landfill. Recycling plastic not only reduces this risk, but it can be effectively re-used commercially in a number ways:
"Bin liners and refuse sacks "" these essential items we all use regularly can be made from recycled pallet wrap, carrier bags and agricultural film.
"Construction "" products such as damp-proof membrane, drainage pipes, ducting and flooring.
"Landscaping "" bridges, walkways, jetties, fences and signs are increasingly being made from recycled plastic.
"Packaging "" vital to retailers and manufacturers.
"Street Materials "" bins, seating, street signs and planters are ideal for this use.
"Textiles "" polyester fibre, clothing and filling.
Conclusion
The Quality Protocol ensures better efficiency when it comes to recycling plastic, so that this type of waste is increasingly re-used instead of being sent to landfill. To further help your business attain compliance with ease, industrial balers are an excellent idea as they effectively compact plastic waste for easier processing as well as the reduction of transport costs.
