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Monthly packaging data continues to report positive progress

The latest packaging recycling data continues to report strong and positive production, with most grades now sitting comfortably over halfway towards their annual targets for 2021.

The latest packaging recycling data continues to report strong and positive production, with most grades now sitting comfortably over halfway towards their annual targets for 2021.

Released by the Environment Agency on the NPWD earlier this month, the data reports on the amount of packaging waste recycled of exported between 10 July and 10 August 2021. It follows the release of the provisional quarterly packaging recycling data, which was published last month and showed a similar positive picture.

Plastic packaging recovery notes (PRNs) have increased following a slight lull in May and June resulting in a drop in the quarterly data.  The latest July figures report a positive rise in tonnage to 111,356, which is an increase of 37,899 tonnes from last month.

After some stagnant production figures earlier in the year, the monthly tonnages also support positive movement towards targets for both glass other and remelt. Glass remelt has an additional 40,000 tonnes reported for July, taking the total to 743,465 for the year. Glass other has also seen a jump in reported figures for this month, with 57,440 tonnes. July is now the second highest performing month for the material this year, taking the tonnage for total glass to over 1,000,000 for 2021.

Both aluminium and steel remain consistent. Currently sitting at 66.25% and 64.37% respectively, both grades are on target to meeting the UK obligation.

Paper could be one grade to watch over the coming months, with the latest monthly data reporting one of the lowest tonnages since January this year. Paper has shown a fall of over 135,000 tonnes compared to the previous month, with 271,548 tonnes reported in this latest data. As this material has consistently performed well through the first half of the year, it does, however, remain on target.

Head of Packaging at Clarity Environmental, Martin Trigg-Knight, said of the data:

“It is positive to see that plastic PRNs recovered quickly from the impacts of the temporary import ban in Turkey, with a significant increase in tonnage reported this month. All other materials are performing well against their recycling targets, continuing positive movement through the year. And although paper has shown a significant drop, the positive figures earlier in the year do mean there is currently little cause for concern about the material meeting its target. We will, of course, monitor paper markets closely, and any other possible market impacts that could affect this material.”

 

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