Plastic: Difference between revisions
→Macro Tonnage: removed image and inserted |
m expanded text |
||
| 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 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. | |||
[[Category:Tonnage & Waste Types]] | [[Category:Tonnage & Waste Types]] | ||
== Overview == | == 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>. | 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>. | ||
Plastic waste being sent to [[Landfill]] is decreasing; between 2012 and 2016 the tonnage dropped from 122,400 to 53,400. This is due to an increase in plastic waste being [[Recycling|recycled]] or sent to [[Energy Recovery Facility|Energy Recovery]], with these treatment methods dealing with 91% of plastic waste in 2016 and the remaining 9% being sent to landfill<ref name="foo" />. | Plastic waste reported as being sent to [[Landfill]] is decreasing; between 2012 and 2016 the tonnage dropped from 122,400 to 53,400. This is due to an increase in plastic waste being [[Recycling|recycled]] or sent to [[Energy Recovery Facility|Energy Recovery]], with these treatment methods dealing with 91% of plastic waste in 2016 and the remaining 9% being sent to landfill<ref name="foo" />. | ||
The current focus in the media on the harm that plastic causes in the environment often does not consider the benefits that plastics can bring in a number of ways, including food preservation. The debate on the merits or otherwise of plastics use, and alternatives, is gathering momentum in the UK at present. | The current focus in the media on the harm that plastic causes in the environment often does not consider the benefits that plastics can bring in a number of ways, including food preservation. The debate on the merits or otherwise of plastics use, and alternatives, is gathering momentum in the UK at present. | ||
A recently published House of Commons Library Briefing Paper (7th January 2020) <ref>[https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8515#fullreport Commons Briefing Paper CBP-8515]</ref> sets out some further issues and a link to all relevant legislation and policy issues at the present time. | |||
== Macro Tonnage == | == Macro Tonnage == | ||
| Line 38: | Line 41: | ||
The macro numbers above under report the total plastics put into the market as the macro numbers exclude tonnage 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]]. | 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]]. | ||
[[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. | |||
[[WRAP]] | 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). | ||
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. | |||
The headers below presently only capture the tonnage collected and reported by | The headers below presently only capture the tonnage collected and reported by local authorities through [[WasteDataFlow]]. | ||
== PET (1) == | == PET (1) == | ||
Revision as of 16:43, 10 January 2020
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 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.
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' [1]. 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 [2].
Plastic waste reported as being sent to Landfill is decreasing; between 2012 and 2016 the tonnage dropped from 122,400 to 53,400. This is due to an increase in plastic waste being recycled or sent to Energy Recovery, with these treatment methods dealing with 91% of plastic waste in 2016 and the remaining 9% being sent to landfill[2].
The current focus in the media on the harm that plastic causes in the environment often does not consider the benefits that plastics can bring in a number of ways, including food preservation. The debate on the merits or otherwise of plastics use, and alternatives, is gathering momentum in the UK at present.
A recently published House of Commons Library Briefing Paper (7th January 2020) [3] sets out some further issues and a link to all relevant legislation and policy issues at the present time.
Macro Tonnage
The most recent information published by DEFRA [4] [5]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:
| Plastic Wastes | |
|---|---|
<graph>
{
"version": 2,
"width": 100,
"height": 100,
"data": [
{
"name": "table",
"values": [
{"name":"AFF","value":137126},
{"name":"MQ","value":766},
{"name":"Ind","value":373114},
{"name":"Con","value":67445},
{"name":"Com","value":822233},
{"name":"HH","value":127842}
],
"transform": [{"type": "pie","field": "value"}]
}
],
"scales": [
{
"name": "r",
"type":"sqrt",
"domain": {"data": "table","field": "value"},
"range": [20,200]
},
{
"name":"color",
"type":"ordinal",
"domain":{"data":"table","field":"name"},
"range":"category10"
}
],
"marks": [
{
"type": "arc",
"from": {"data": "table"},
"properties": {
"enter": {
"x": {"field": {"group": "width"},"mult": 0.5},
"y": {"field": {"group": "height"},"mult": 0.5},
"startAngle": {"field": "layout_start"},
"endAngle": {"field": "layout_end"},
"innerRadius": {"value": 20},
"outerRadius": {"scale": "r","field": "value"},
"stroke": {"value": "#fff"},
"fill":{"scale":"color","field":"name"}
}
}
}
],
"legends":[{
"fill":"color",
"title":"",
"offset": 175,
"properties":{
"symbols":{
"strokeWidth":{"value":0},
"shape":{"value":"square"},
"size":{"value":175}
}
}
}]
}
</graph> | |
| Data Table | |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (AFF) | 138,126 |
| Mining and Quarrying (MQ) | 766 |
| Industrial (Ind) | 373,144 |
| Construction (Con) | 67,445 |
| Commercial (Com) | 822,233 |
| Household (HH) | 127,842 |
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.
WRAP in their most recent report [6] 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 [7] reported non-packaging waste closer to 1,5000,000 tonnes.
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).
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.
The headers below presently only capture the tonnage collected and reported by local authorities through WasteDataFlow.
PET (1)
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 200 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
| Authority | Stream | Facility | Operator | Address | Material | Tonnes |
|---|
HDPE (2)
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 200 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
| Authority | Stream | Facility | Operator | Address | Material | Tonnes |
|---|
PVC (3)
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 200 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
| Authority | Stream | Facility | Operator | Address | Material | Tonnes |
|---|
LDPE (4)
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 100 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
| Authority | Stream | Facility | Operator | Address | Material | Tonnes |
|---|
PP (5)
Below is a list of local authorities that sends any tonnage of this material to a single waste operator.
| Authority | Stream | Facility | Operator | Address | Material | Tonnes |
|---|
PS (6)
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 100 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
| Authority | Stream | Facility | Operator | Address | Material | Tonnes |
|---|
OTHER PLASTICS (7)
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 1000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
| Authority | Stream | Facility | Operator | Address | Material | Tonnes |
|---|
Mixed Plastic Bottles
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 2000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
| Authority | Stream | Facility | Operator | Address | Material | Tonnes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire County Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Smiths ( Gloucester ) Ltd | The Old Airfield, Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire | Mixed Plastic Bottles | 5,161.63 | {{{date}}} |
| Ryedale District Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Yorwaste Ltd | Seamer Landfill Site, Dunslow Road, Seamer, Scarborough, North Yorkshire | Mixed Plastic Bottles | 5,037.96 | {{{date}}} |
| Dumfries & Galloway | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Not Available | Not Available | Mixed Plastic Bottles | 4,853.02 | {{{date}}} |
| Bristol City Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | J. And A. Young (Leicester) Limited | Unit 15, Saxon Way East, Oakley Hay Industrial Estate, Corby, Northamptonshire | Mixed Plastic Bottles | 3,956.46 | {{{date}}} |
| Nottinghamshire County Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Veolia E S Nottinghamshire Ltd | Warren Way, Crown Farm Ind Est, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire | Mixed Plastic Bottles | 3,480.71 | {{{date}}} |
| Newport City Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | J & A Young ( Leicester ) Ltd | J & A Young ( Leicester), Berristow Lane, South Normanton, Derbyshire | Mixed Plastic Bottles | 3,024.54 | {{{date}}} |
| Neath Port Talbot CBC | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | P M K Recycling Limited | P M K Recycling, Baston Outgang Road, Baston, Peterborough, Cambs | Mixed Plastic Bottles | 2,257.00 | {{{date}}} |
| Richmondshire District Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Yorwaste Ltd | Tancred Quarry, Scorton, Richmond, North Yorkshire | Mixed Plastic Bottles | 2,151.48 | {{{date}}} |
Mixed Plastics
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 5000 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
| Authority | Stream | Facility | Operator | Address | Material | Tonnes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merseyside WDA (MBC) | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | S Norton & Co Ltd | Bankfield House, Bankfield Mill, Regent Road, Liverpool, Merseyside | Mixed Plastics | 17,486.76 | {{{date}}} |
| Cheshire West and Chester | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Viridor Waste Management Ltd | Salmon Pastures Transfer Station, Attercliffe Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire | Mixed Plastics | 12,195.26 | {{{date}}} |
| Vale of Glamorgan Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Cowbridge Compost Ltd | The Lodge, Llwynhelig, Gibbots Hill, Cowbridge, Vale Of Glamorgan | Mixed Plastics | 8,502.31 | {{{date}}} |
| Swindon Borough Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Jeremy Mark Freeth | Kingshill Recycling Centre, Cricklade, Swindon, Wiltshire | Mixed Plastics | 8,326.98 | {{{date}}} |
| St Helens MBC | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Biffa Waste Services Ltd | Pocket Nook Resource Management Centre, Pocket Nook Street, St Helens, Warrington, Cheshire | Mixed Plastics | 7,451.41 | {{{date}}} |
Video tapes, DVDs and CDs
Below is a list of local authorities that sends more than 500 tonnes of this material to a single waste operator.
| Authority | Stream | Facility | Operator | Address | Material | Tonnes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston-upon-Hull City Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Other/Exempt | JMP WILCOX & CO LTD, BELDRAY WORKS, BELDRAY ROAD BILSTON, WOLVERHAMPTON, WEST MIDLANDS , WV14 7NH | Video tapes, DVDs and CDs | 713.07 | {{{date}}} |
| Conwy CBC | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Other/Exempt | Crest Brierley HouseFerry Farm Roadllandudno JunctionConwy LL31 9SFTel 596783 | Video tapes, DVDs and CDs | 548.60 | {{{date}}} |
| East Riding of Yorkshire Council | Source segregated recyclate | Reprocessor - recycling (qu19) | Other/Exempt | Wilcox Industrial Supply Co. Beldray Works, Beldray Road Bilston, West Midlands WV14 7NH | Video tapes, DVDs and CDs | 527.00 | {{{date}}} |
| Derbyshire County Council | Source segregated recyclate | Exporter - recycling (qu19) | Other/Exempt | Savanna; Savanna Mill, Forest Road, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire (EPR/XE5987WJ) | Video tapes, DVDs and CDs | 508.84 | {{{date}}} |
References
- ↑ Marriam-Webster, 2019. Definition of PLASTIC. Merriam-webster.com. [online] [Accessed 27 Feb. 2019].
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Smith, L. 2019. BRIEFING PAPER Number 08515, 30 September 2019 - Plastic waste. London: House of Commons Library. [online].
- ↑ Commons Briefing Paper CBP-8515
- ↑ Digest of Waste Resources 2018 reporting data from 2016
- ↑ UK Statistics on Waste 2019 updating some of the 2018 Digest with 2017 data
- ↑ WRAP Plastics Market Situation Report 2019
- ↑ WRAP Plastics Market Situation Report 2016