Plastic
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 when not properly managed can enter and then persist in the environment, presenting a variety of potentially wide-reaching environmental issues, polluting soils, rivers and oceans, and harming the creatures that inhabit them[2].
The overall size of the Plastic Waste market in the UK is estimated to be around 5,000,000 tonnes[4].
Plastic Waste Arisings by Economic Classification (UK 2020)
Plastic Waste Arisings
- 1,807.00 thousand tonnes (UK 2020 per above)
- 1,539.44 thousand tonnes (England 2020)
- 85.2% of tonnage was from England
Data source: [3]
Plastics Waste Arisings (Waste Category and Economic Classification)
Commercial and Industrial* | UK 2020 | England 2020 | England 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
Manufacturing | 307.69 | 255.35 | 212.10 |
Water Treatment | 4.24 | 3.17 | 2.62 |
Services | 725.73 | 654.88 | 542.03 |
Total | 1,037.67 | 913.39 | 756.75 |
% Total and % England | 57.4% | 88.0% |
Municipal Solid Waste* | UK 2020 | England 2020 | England 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
Services | 725.73 | 654.88 | 542.03 |
Household | 558.49 | 502.28 | 524.69 |
Total | 1,284.22 | 1,157.16 | 1,066.72 |
% Total and % England | 71.1% | 90.1% |
All figures in thousand tonnes. Data source: [3] * See data limitations
Plastic Waste Arisings Trends
Notes
- England represents c. 85% of UK Plastic Arisings. The DEFRA total data is lower than packaging data and total plastic estimates by others.
- England trend is shown as the data runs to 2022, whereas UK data only runs to 2020 at the current time
- Packaging Plastic for the UK are shown for both arisings and recovery/recycled (51.4% in 2022)
Data source: [3]
Total Plastic Tonnage
The majority of current reporting of plastic waste is by reference to Plastic Packaging.
A WRAP market report dated 2019[4] estimated c.2.5 million tonnes was non-packaging plastic (including plastics from WEEE, ELV, construction and other end markets).
Packaging Plastic Put on the Market (POM) has ranged between 2.2 and 2.5 million tonnes as captured in the most recent WRAP report[5] and the DEFRA data[3].
Plastic Grades - Overview
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[6] Plastic is defined as:
- Plastic bottles made of PET, PP and HDPE
- Pots, tubs and trays made of PET, PP (including expanded PP) and PE
- PE and 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 PE, mono PP and mixed PP and PE, including those metallised through vacuum or vapour deposition
Plastic Waste Sale Grades
Purchase prices for recycled plastic bottles are broadly based around:
- Clear and light blue PET
- Coloured PET
- HDPE natural
- HDPE Mixed Colour
- Mixed Bottles
- PTT : Pots, Tubs and Trays
Purchase Price Grades for Films
- 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)
