23 MARCH 2015www.mrw.co.uk
Aluminium and steel recycling targets flawed shows WRAP report
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
The recycling targets for steel and aluminium packaging have been based on flawed data according to a report commissioned by Wrap.
The report, in conjunction with Valpak, aimed to reassess the accuracy of the 2012 and 2013 aluminium and steel packaging quantity figures placed on the market (POM).
It found that the original Defra figures were incorrect, with the quantity of aluminium POM being underestimated while steel was overestimated and concluded that new ranges for recycling rates should be calculated based on these figures with higher than existing ones for steel and lower for aluminium packaging.
The project opted to use the net pack fill methodology as an alternative to Defra’s packflow method.
The packflow figures were originally estimated through a data gathering exercise and industry consultation.
This process involved regressing the reprocessing figures against the historical reprocessing figures with the addition of estimates for unaccredited material.
By comparing historical and current figures, a future trend was predicted.
According to the report this did not provide a ‘particularly sophisticated projection’ and ignores external, future factors such as the maturity of the collection system and the timing of potential future policy interventions.
The net pack fill methodology, which was deemed to be more robust, uses data obtained from the Environment Agency for accredited reprocessors and focuses on the quantity of packaging reported at the packing/filling stage of the supply chain, as opposed to the selling stage.
The newly generated figures were also uplifted based on the estimates of material that was POM but not officially recorded.
A comparison between the steel figures for both the net pack fill and packflow methodologies show that packflow figures were inflated by over 25,000 tonnes in 2006.
This disparity widened until 2013 with net pack fill calculations suggesting that packflow overestimated over 100,000 tonnes of material being POM.
The report, in conjunction with Valpak, aimed to reassess the accuracy of the 2012 and 2013 aluminium and steel packaging quantity figures placed on the market (POM).
It found that the original Defra figures were incorrect, with the quantity of aluminium POM being underestimated while steel was overestimated and concluded that new ranges for recycling rates should be calculated based on these figures with higher than existing ones for steel and lower for aluminium packaging.
The project opted to use the net pack fill methodology as an alternative to Defra’s packflow method.
The packflow figures were originally estimated through a data gathering exercise and industry consultation.
This process involved regressing the reprocessing figures against the historical reprocessing figures with the addition of estimates for unaccredited material.
By comparing historical and current figures, a future trend was predicted.
According to the report this did not provide a ‘particularly sophisticated projection’ and ignores external, future factors such as the maturity of the collection system and the timing of potential future policy interventions.
The net pack fill methodology, which was deemed to be more robust, uses data obtained from the Environment Agency for accredited reprocessors and focuses on the quantity of packaging reported at the packing/filling stage of the supply chain, as opposed to the selling stage.
The newly generated figures were also uplifted based on the estimates of material that was POM but not officially recorded.
A comparison between the steel figures for both the net pack fill and packflow methodologies show that packflow figures were inflated by over 25,000 tonnes in 2006.
This disparity widened until 2013 with net pack fill calculations suggesting that packflow overestimated over 100,000 tonnes of material being POM.
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