News

With Recycling Week underway, Chris Dow, managing director of Closed Loop Recycling, calls on government to follow the big brands' lead on PET recycling.

The research predicts that the days of major price instability are behind us due to increased confidence and belief in the local recycling industry. And unlike virgin PET prices which are expected to be largely flat in the next 3 to 4 years, the report predicts that recycled PET will remain solid. 

But this is not being driven by the new government, who we look to now to stimulate the market. This growth is being driven by big global brand owners, who are signing up for recycled PET on a daily basis, such as Britvic, M&S, Coke and Solo Cup. These brand owners understand carbon metrics and are in a position to make a real difference to their brands both on an environmental and economic level. 

There are also exciting developments in the way we collect and deal with our waste. Now we have taken the first steps to build the infrastructure which creates the product that the consumer demands and we have local governments actively involved in changing the way we collect waste in order to maintain the feedstock for our industry. 

Alas there is a much larger issue that we need to address. How long will the world put up with disposal of our waste that doesn't comply with our own standards? When will Britain really step up to the mark and take responsibility for its own waste?

Over half the bottles collected in London are still exported abroad. Across the country that is the equivalent of exporting 2,000 low carbon jobs simply shipped overseas. There is now a commitment by government to create and maintain a green economy and there has never been a better opportunity to create environmental solutions to maintain the future of our environment for our children.

We have the technology to deal with our waste and the commitment from private investors to build the infrastructure we need to meet the demand. It's time for the industry in partnership with all levels of government to get on the front foot and hit the issues for six.

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