Packaging waste sent overseas for recycling may still end up in landfill, watchdogs say
11million tons of wrapping is thrown out by UK households every year — and 64 per cent of this is officially recycled
PACKAGING waste shipped overseas for recycling could actually be ending up in landfill, government auditors have warned.
The amount of waste sent to countries including China, Turkey, Malaysia and Poland has rocketed sixfold since 2002 - accounting for half of all packaging reported as recycled last year.
More than 7,000 firms responsible for generating waste have to demonstrate that a certain amount has been recycled. But they are only required to demonstrate this by paying for “recovery evidence notes” from reprocessing plants or waste exporters.
A damning report by the National Audit Office (NAO) slammed England’s environment watchdog for failing to carry out adequate checks on these evidence notes and whether firms are fraudulently claiming they have recycled packaging.
It warns that there is a financial incentive for companies to fraudulently claim they have recycled their waste.
The NAO found the Environment Agency has little oversight or control of waste that is sold for recycling abroad.
It warned: “We are concerned that the agency does not have strong enough controls to prevent the system subsidising exports of contaminated or poor-quality material.”
There was a risk that some material was not recycled to UK standards “and is instead sent to landfill or contributes to pollution”.
The NAO also panned Michael Gove’s Environment department for failing to be “sufficiently proactive” in managing the risks associated with the rise in exports of waste.
The NAO said 11 million tonnes of packaging was used by UK households and businesses and noted that 64% of packaging waste was reported as recycled in 2017. This exceeded the EU target of 55 per cent.
NAO chief Sir Amyas Morse said: “If the UK wants to play its part in fully tackling the impacts of waste and pollution, a tighter grip on packaging recycling is needed.”
He added: “The Government should have a much better understanding of the difference this system makes and a better handle on the risks associated with so much packaging waste being recycled overseas.”
A Defra spokesman said: “Since the current packaging producer responsibility regime was introduced, recycling rates have increased significantly.
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“However, there is much more to do. We don’t recycle enough waste, and we export too much of it.
“That’s why we have already committed to overhaul the system, and we will set out our reforms in the Resources and Waste Strategy later this year.”