Plastic: Difference between revisions

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Current estimates are that there was 2,400,000 tonnes of '''plastic packaging waste''' ~~placed on the market in 2017 with~~ a further 2,500,000 tonnes of '''non-packaging plastic waste''' primarily from the construction sector. ~~There is some debate around~~ the ~~accuracy of these figures~~, ~~with earlier reports on non~~-~~packaging~~ waste ~~closer to 1~~,~~5000,000 tonnes~~.

Current estimates are that there was 3,700,000 tonnes of plastic put on the market in 2019, comprising 2,400,000 tonnes of '''[[Packaging Waste|plastic packaging waste]]''' and a further 1,500,000 tonnes of '''non-packaging plastic waste''' primarily from the construction sector<ref> [http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/WRAP_Plastics_market_situation_report.pdf WRAP Plastics Market Situation Report 2019]</ref>. The macro plastic waste tonnage reported by [[DEFRA]] for the UK in 2020 was 1,807,003 tonnes<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/env23-uk-waste-data-and-management UK Statistics on Waste 2020]</ref>, the balance between put on the market and [[Recycling|recycled]]/[[Recovery|recovered]] remaining in [[residual waste]] streams.

[[Category:Tonnage & Waste Types‏‎]]

== Macro Tonnage ==

The most recent information published by [[DEFRA]] <ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/env23-uk-waste-data-and-management UK Statistics on Waste 2020]</ref> is summarized in the pie chart below, with 1,807,003 tonnes of plastic wastes generated in the UK in 2020 as part of the broader tonnage reported in [[UK Waste Tonnage]] equivalent to c.2% of the total. These tonnages exclude any plastics that are not [[Recycling|recycled]]/[[Recovery|recovered]] and remain in [[residual waste]] streams.

[[File:Plastic_Pie.png|800px|frameless|center]]

[[WRAP]] in their most recent report <ref> [http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/WRAP_Plastics_market_situation_report.pdf WRAP Plastics Market Situation Report 2019]</ref> identify 2,400,000 tonnes of plastic [[packaging waste]] placed on the market in 2019 (of which around 550,000 tonnes was collected by local authorities) with a further 1,500,000 tonnes of non-packaging plastic primarily from the construction sector.

Plastics reports by [[WRAP]] acknowledge the challenges and accuracy around estimating plastic tonnage in the UK (in many cases relying on plastics placed on the market rather than plastics actually recycled to derive figures due to the poor quality of waste figures).

== Overview ==

Plastics are defined as 'any of numerous organic synthetic or processed materials that are mostly thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and that can be made into objects, films, or filaments' <ref>Marriam-Webster, 2019. [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plastic Definition of PLASTIC. Merriam-webster.com.] [online] [Accessed 27 Feb. 2019].</ref>. Although plastics present many benefits, plastic waste, generally, does not decompose and therefore persists in the environment presenting a variety of wide-reaching environmental issues, polluting soils, rivers and oceans, and harming the creatures that inhabit them <ref name="foo">Smith, L. 2019. [http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8515/CBP-8515.pdf BRIEFING PAPER Number 08515, 30 September 2019 - Plastic waste.] London: House of Commons Library. [online].</ref>.

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The '''[[Plastics Pact]]''' is an initiative with voluntary membership with the objective of transitioning to a [[Circular Economy|circular economy]] for plastics, with targets for reduction, [[reuse]], [[recycling]] and the elimination of single use plastics.

==Categories==

Plastic waste is generally categorised either according to its form/previous use (ie plastic bottles) or according to the polymer type of the plastic waste (of which there are 7 primary polymers). In addition there are price categories according to polymer type and colour and film grades.

===Polymer Types===

The 7 main polymer types are:

* [[PET (1)]]

* [[HDPE (2)]]

* [[PVC (3)]]

* [[LDPE (4)]]

* [[PP (5)]]

* [[PS (6)]]

* [[OTHER PLASTICS (7)]]

===Simpler Recycling Categories===

Under [[Simpler Recycling]]<ref>https://www.gov.uk/government/news/simpler-recycling-collections-and-tougher-regulation-to-reform-waste-system</ref> [[Plastic]] is defined as:

* Plastic bottles made of [[PET (1)|PET]], [[PP (5)|PP]] and [[HDPE (2)|HDPE]]

* Pots, tubs and trays made of [[PET (1)|PET]], [[PP (5)|PP]] (including expanded [[PP (5)|PP]]) and [[wikipedia: Polyethylene|PE]]

* [[wikipedia: Polyethylene|PE]] and [[PP (5)|PP]] plastic tubes larger than 50mm x 50mm

* Cartons for food, drink and other liquids, including aseptic and chilled cartons

* Plastic film packaging and plastic bags made of mono [[wikipedia: Polyethylene|PE]], mono [[PP (5)|PP]] and mixed [[PP (5)|PP]] and [[wikipedia: Polyethylene|PE]], including those metallised through vacuum or vapour deposition

== ~~Macro Tonnage~~ ==

===Plastic Waste Sale Grades===

~~The most recent information published by [[DEFRA]] <ref>[https~~:~~//www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/env23-uk-waste-data-~~and~~-management UK Statistics on Waste 2020]</ref> is summarized in the pie chart below, with 1,528,527 tonnes of plastic wastes generated in the UK in 2016 as part of the broader tonnage reported in~~ [[~~UK Waste Tonnage~~]]:

Purchase prices for recycled plastic bottles are broadly based around:

* Clear and light blue [[PET (1)|PET]]

[[~~File:Plastic_Pie.png~~|~~800px|frameless|center~~]]

* Coloured [[PET (1)|PET]]

* [[HDPE (2)|HDPE]] natural

The macro numbers above under report the total plastics put into the market, as the macro numbers exclude tonnage which would otherwise be captured in mixed categories. The macro numbers also do not breakdown the component elements of plastic, but the following headers in the page are the materials as handled by local authorities and as reported through [[~~WasteDataFlow~~]].

* [[HDPE (2)|HDPE]] Mixed Colour

* Mixed Bottles

[[~~WRAP~~]] in their most recent report <ref> [http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/WRAP_Plastics_market_situation_report.pdf WRAP Plastics Market Situation Report 2019]</ref> identify 2,400,000 tonnes of plastic packaging waste placed on the market in 2017 (of which around 550,000 tonnes was collected by local authorities) with a further 2,500,000 tonnes of non-packaging plastic primarily from the construction sector. There is some debate around the accuracy of these figures, and an earlier evolution of this report in 2016 <ref>[https://www.wrap.org.uk/collections-and-reprocessing/recovered-materials-markets/reports/market-situation-reports-plastics WRAP Plastics Market Situation Report 2016] </ref> reported non-packaging waste closer to 1,5000,000 tonnes.

* PTT _ Pots, Tubs and Trays

~~Indeed earlier plastics reports by~~ [[~~WRAP~~]] ~~acknowledge the challenges~~ and ~~accuracy around estimating plastic tonnage in the~~ UK (~~in many cases relying on plastics placed on the market rather than plastics actually recycled to derive figures due to the poor quality of waste figures~~).

Purchase price for recycled films are broadly priced around:

* UK PE Printed

* UK Clear - Natural

* [[MRF]] Film

* Carrier bags

* Export and UK 80:20 (80% target and 20% non-target material)

* Export 90:10 (90% target and 10% non-target material)

* Export 95:5 (95% target and 5% non-target material)

* Export 98:2 (98% target and 2% non-target material)

Assuming the total plastics placed on the market at the [[WRAP]] figure of 4,900,000 tonnes, this represents 2.2% of total [[UK Waste Tonnage]] but when taking out of consideration the categories of mineral waste (from construction and demolition and mines and quarries), soils, dredging spoils and sludges it represents 7.1% of total waste generated.

==Local Authority Tonnages==

The headers below presently only capture ~~the~~ tonnage collected and reported by local authorities through [[WasteDataFlow]].

The headers below presently only capture significant tonnage collected and reported by [[Local Authority|local authorities]] through [[WasteDataFlow]].

== PET (1) ==

===PET (1)===

Below is a list of local authorities that send [[PET (1)]] ([[wikipedia:Polyethylene terephthalate|Polyethylene Terephthalate]]) to a single waste operator.

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|}

== HDPE (2) ==

===HDPE (2)===

Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 200 tonnes of [[HDPE (2)]] ([[wikipedia:High-density polyethylene|High Density Polyethylene]]) to a single waste operator.

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|}

== PVC (3) ==

===PVC (3)===

Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 20 tonnes of [[PVC (3)]] ([[wikipedia:Polyvinyl chloride|Polyvinyl Chloride]]) to a single waste operator.

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|}

== LDPE (4) ==

===LDPE (4)===

Below is a list of local authorities that send [[LDPE (4)]] ([[wikipedia:Low-density polyethylene|Low Density Polyethylene]]) to a single waste operator.

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|}

== PP (5) ==

===PP (5)===

Below is a list of local authorities that sends any tonnage of [[PP (5)]] ([[wikipedia:Polypropylene|Polypropylene]]) to a single waste operator.

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|}

== PS (6) ==

===PS (6)===

Below is a list of local authorities that send [[PS (6)]] ([[wikipedia:Polystyrene|Polystyrene]]) to a single waste operator.

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|}

== OTHER PLASTICS (7) (including ABS) ==

===OTHER PLASTICS (7) (including ABS)===

Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 1000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator. This includes, for the purpose of WikiWaste, [[ABS]] ([[wikipedia:Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene|Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene]]) often used in children's toys and car bumpers.

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|}

== Mixed Plastic Bottles ==

===Mixed Plastic Bottles===

Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 1000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.

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|}

== Mixed Plastics ==

===Mixed Plastics===

Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 3000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.

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|}

== Video tapes, DVDs and CDs ==

===Video tapes, DVDs and CDs===

Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 300 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Current estimates are that there was 2,400,000 tonnes of '''plastic packaging waste''' placed on the market in 2017 with a further 2,500,000 tonnes of '''non-packaging plastic waste''' primarily from the construction sector. There is some debate around the accuracy of these figures, with earlier reports on non-packaging waste closer to 1,5000,000 tonnes.
+Current estimates are that there was 3,700,000 tonnes of plastic put on the market in 2019, comprising 2,400,000 tonnes of '''[[Packaging Waste|plastic packaging waste]]''' and a further 1,500,000 tonnes of '''non-packaging plastic waste''' primarily from the construction sector<ref> [http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/WRAP_Plastics_market_situation_report.pdf WRAP Plastics Market Situation Report 2019]</ref>. The macro plastic waste tonnage reported by [[DEFRA]] for the UK in 2020 was 1,807,003 tonnes<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/env23-uk-waste-data-and-management UK Statistics on Waste 2020]</ref>, the balance between put on the market and [[Recycling|recycled]]/[[Recovery|recovered]] remaining in [[residual waste]] streams.
 [[Category:Tonnage & Waste Types‏‎]]
 [[File:Baled plastic bottles.jpg|400px|left|Recycled plastic bottles in bales for shipping - image from shift website, all rights reserved]]__TOC__
 <br clear='left'/>
+== Macro Tonnage ==
+The most recent information published by [[DEFRA]] <ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/env23-uk-waste-data-and-management UK Statistics on Waste 2020]</ref> is summarized in the pie chart below, with 1,807,003 tonnes of plastic wastes generated in the UK in 2020 as part of the broader tonnage reported in [[UK Waste Tonnage]] equivalent to c.2% of the total. These tonnages exclude any plastics that are not [[Recycling|recycled]]/[[Recovery|recovered]] and remain in [[residual waste]] streams.
+[[File:Plastic_Pie.png|800px|frameless|center]]
+[[WRAP]] in their most recent report <ref> [http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/WRAP_Plastics_market_situation_report.pdf WRAP Plastics Market Situation Report 2019]</ref> identify 2,400,000 tonnes of plastic [[packaging waste]] placed on the market in 2019 (of which around 550,000 tonnes was collected by local authorities) with a further 1,500,000 tonnes of non-packaging plastic primarily from the construction sector.
+Plastics reports by [[WRAP]] acknowledge the challenges and accuracy around estimating plastic tonnage in the UK (in many cases relying on plastics placed on the market rather than plastics actually recycled to derive figures due to the poor quality of waste figures).
 == Overview ==
 Plastics are defined as 'any of numerous organic synthetic or processed materials that are mostly thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and that can be made into objects, films, or filaments' <ref>Marriam-Webster, 2019. [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plastic Definition of PLASTIC. Merriam-webster.com.] [online] [Accessed 27 Feb. 2019].</ref>. Although plastics present many benefits, plastic waste, generally, does not decompose and therefore persists in the environment presenting a variety of wide-reaching environmental issues, polluting soils, rivers and oceans, and harming the creatures that inhabit them <ref name="foo">Smith, L. 2019. [http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8515/CBP-8515.pdf BRIEFING PAPER Number 08515, 30 September 2019 - Plastic waste.] London: House of Commons Library. [online].</ref>.
@@ Line 14: / Line 24: @@
 The '''[[Plastics Pact]]''' is an initiative with voluntary membership with the objective of transitioning to a [[Circular Economy|circular economy]] for plastics, with targets for reduction, [[reuse]], [[recycling]] and the elimination of single use plastics.
+==Categories==
+Plastic waste is generally categorised either according to its form/previous use (ie plastic bottles) or according to the polymer type of the plastic waste (of which there are 7 primary polymers). In addition there are price categories according to polymer type and colour and film grades.
+===Polymer Types===
+The 7 main polymer types are:
+* [[PET (1)]]
+* [[HDPE (2)]]
+* [[PVC (3)]]
+* [[LDPE (4)]]
+* [[PP (5)]]
+* [[PS (6)]]
+* [[OTHER PLASTICS (7)]]
+===Simpler Recycling Categories===
 Under [[Simpler Recycling]]<ref>https://www.gov.uk/government/news/simpler-recycling-collections-and-tougher-regulation-to-reform-waste-system</ref> [[Plastic]] is defined as:
 * Plastic bottles made of [[PET (1)|PET]], [[PP (5)|PP]] and [[HDPE (2)|HDPE]]
-* Pots, tubs and trays made of [[PET (1)|PET]], [[PP (5)|PP]] (including expanded [[PP (5)|PP]]) and [[wikipedia: Polyethylene|PE]]
+* [[Pots Tubs and Trays|Pots, tubs and trays]] made of [[PET (1)|PET]], [[PP (5)|PP]] (including expanded [[PP (5)|PP]]) and [[wikipedia: Polyethylene|PE]]
 * [[wikipedia: Polyethylene|PE]] and [[PP (5)|PP]] plastic tubes larger than 50mm x 50mm
 * Cartons for food, drink and other liquids, including aseptic and chilled cartons
 * Plastic film packaging and plastic bags made of mono [[wikipedia: Polyethylene|PE]], mono [[PP (5)|PP]] and mixed [[PP (5)|PP]] and [[wikipedia: Polyethylene|PE]], including those metallised through vacuum or vapour deposition
-== Macro Tonnage ==
+===Plastic Waste Sale Grades===
-The most recent information published by [[DEFRA]] <ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/env23-uk-waste-data-and-management UK Statistics on Waste 2020]</ref> is summarized in the pie chart below, with 1,528,527 tonnes of plastic wastes generated in the UK in 2016 as part of the broader tonnage reported in [[UK Waste Tonnage]]:
+Purchase prices for recycled plastic bottles are broadly based around:
+* Clear and light blue [[PET (1)|PET]]
-[[File:Plastic_Pie.png|800px|frameless|center]]
+* Coloured [[PET (1)|PET]]
+* [[HDPE (2)|HDPE]] natural
-The macro numbers above under report the total plastics put into the market, as the macro numbers exclude tonnage which would otherwise be captured in mixed categories. The macro numbers also do not breakdown the component elements of plastic, but the following headers in the page are the materials as handled by local authorities and as reported through [[WasteDataFlow]].
+* [[HDPE (2)|HDPE]] Mixed Colour
+* Mixed Bottles
-[[WRAP]] in their most recent report <ref> [http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/WRAP_Plastics_market_situation_report.pdf WRAP Plastics Market Situation Report 2019]</ref> identify 2,400,000 tonnes of plastic packaging waste placed on the market in 2017 (of which around 550,000 tonnes was collected by local authorities) with a further 2,500,000 tonnes of non-packaging plastic primarily from the construction sector. There is some debate around the accuracy of these figures, and an earlier evolution of this report in 2016 <ref>[https://www.wrap.org.uk/collections-and-reprocessing/recovered-materials-markets/reports/market-situation-reports-plastics WRAP Plastics Market Situation Report 2016] </ref> reported non-packaging waste closer to 1,5000,000 tonnes.
+* PTT _ Pots, Tubs and Trays
-Indeed earlier plastics reports by [[WRAP]] acknowledge the challenges and accuracy around estimating plastic tonnage in the UK (in many cases relying on plastics placed on the market rather than plastics actually recycled to derive figures due to the poor quality of waste figures).
+Purchase price for recycled films are broadly priced around:
+* UK PE Printed
+* UK Clear - Natural
+* [[MRF]] Film
+* Carrier bags
+* Export and UK 80:20 (80% target and 20% non-target material)
+* Export 90:10 (90% target and 10% non-target material)
+* Export 95:5 (95% target and 5% non-target material)
+* Export 98:2 (98% target and 2% non-target material)
-Assuming the total plastics placed on the market at the [[WRAP]] figure of 4,900,000 tonnes, this represents 2.2% of total [[UK Waste Tonnage]] but when taking out of consideration the categories of mineral waste (from construction and demolition and mines and quarries), soils, dredging spoils and sludges it represents 7.1% of total waste generated.
+==Local Authority Tonnages==
-The headers below presently only capture the tonnage collected and reported by local authorities through [[WasteDataFlow]].
+The headers below presently only capture significant tonnage collected and reported by [[Local Authority|local authorities]] through [[WasteDataFlow]].
-== PET (1) ==
+===PET (1)===
 Below is a list of local authorities that send [[PET (1)]] ([[wikipedia:Polyethylene terephthalate|Polyethylene Terephthalate]]) to a single waste operator.
 {{#clear_external_data:}}
@@ Line 52: / Line 83: @@
 |}
-== HDPE (2) ==
+===HDPE (2)===
 Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 200 tonnes of [[HDPE (2)]] ([[wikipedia:High-density polyethylene|High Density Polyethylene]]) to a single waste operator.
 {{#clear_external_data:}}
@@ Line 68: / Line 99: @@
 |}
-== PVC (3) ==
+===PVC (3)===
 Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 20 tonnes of [[PVC (3)]] ([[wikipedia:Polyvinyl chloride|Polyvinyl Chloride]]) to a single waste operator.
 {{#clear_external_data:}}
@@ Line 84: / Line 115: @@
 |}
-== LDPE (4) ==
+===LDPE (4)===
 Below is a list of local authorities that send [[LDPE (4)]] ([[wikipedia:Low-density polyethylene|Low Density Polyethylene]]) to a single waste operator.
 {{#clear_external_data:}}
@@ Line 100: / Line 131: @@
 |}
-== PP (5) ==
+===PP (5)===
 Below is a list of local authorities that sends any tonnage of [[PP (5)]] ([[wikipedia:Polypropylene|Polypropylene]]) to a single waste operator.
 {{#clear_external_data:}}
@@ Line 116: / Line 147: @@
 |}
-== PS (6) ==
+===PS (6)===
 Below is a list of local authorities that send [[PS (6)]] ([[wikipedia:Polystyrene|Polystyrene]]) to a single waste operator.
 {{#clear_external_data:}}
@@ Line 132: / Line 163: @@
 |}
-== OTHER PLASTICS (7) (including ABS) ==
+===OTHER PLASTICS (7) (including ABS)===
 Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 1000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator. This includes, for the purpose of WikiWaste, [[ABS]] ([[wikipedia:Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene|Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene]]) often used in children's toys and car bumpers.
 {{#clear_external_data:}}
@@ Line 148: / Line 179: @@
 |}
-== Mixed Plastic Bottles ==
+===Mixed Plastic Bottles===
 Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 1000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
 {{#clear_external_data:}}
@@ Line 164: / Line 195: @@
 |}
-== Mixed Plastics ==
+===Mixed Plastics===
 Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 3000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
 {{#clear_external_data:}}
@@ Line 180: / Line 211: @@
 |}
-== Video tapes, DVDs and CDs ==
+===Video tapes, DVDs and CDs===
 Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 300 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
 {{#clear_external_data:}}