Why Quality Matters Linda Crichton Head of Collections & Quality

What do we mean by quality? Quality of materials –consistently delivering materials to the market place that are effectively separated to meet customer requirements and comply with legal obligations under European directives or with specific regulations in the Nations Quality of service –consistently delivering a good service that takes account of the needs of residents (and businesses) and where they live

Importance of quality - regulations Article 11 of the rWFD Member States shall take measures to promote high quality recycling and, to this end, shall set up separate collections of waste where technically, environmentally and economically practicable and appropriate to meet the necessary quality standards for the relevant recycling sectors. SG Policy Statement – Zero Waste Regulations “We intend to stipulate in the regulations that co-mingling of dry recyclables will only be permitted where the hierarchy is not undermined…and the outputs from the MRF are of comparable quality to that collected separately at the kerbside.”

Importance of quality - exports China single largest destination for UK exports of recovered plastics and paper. UK materials account for 11% of the Chinese imports of recovered paper and 9% for recovered plastics.

Quality also.. …allows the best environmental option to be realised –reuse, closed loop recycling, recovery of energy Plastic bottle recycling & kg CO 2e

Quality is a ‘supply chain’ issue Role of householders Design & delivery of collection system Capacity & management of MRFs/ treatment plants Reprocessors / end markets All in the chain need to take responsibility

Service Commitments Customer experience is central to the design and delivery of services Local accountability Opportunity to improve communication with service users and increase satisfaction New Business Recycling & Waste Services Commitment

MRFs

MRF Code of Practice Promote quality in the way recyclable materials are sorted through an industry-led Code of Practice Part of Responsibility Deal between Defra & Waste and Resource Management Sector Measurement protocols for input and output quality Transparency of results Options for implementing the CoP being considered including making it mandatory

MRF Quality thresholds MRF material testing – establishing baseline for Scotland of contamination/non target material levels Undertaking quality thresholds scoping study for SG; WG also participating –SG to include provisions in the ZW Regs to enable Scottish Ministers to issue quality standards for recycling Looking into the effects of compaction during collect on MRF ability to sort Convened an industry group looking at plastic bale quality

Plastic Packaging

Quality Protocols Define ‘end of waste’ criteria No longer regulated as waste Reduces cost of producing recycled materials Expands market for recycled materials Materials deregulated to date Compost, Digestate, Aggregates Flat Glass, Non-Packaging Plastics Tyre derived Rubber Used Cooking Oil

Specifications (PAS) Confidence in a product for the right use Clarity for regulators and regulated Waste status can be a barrier Specifiers: guarantee that process & outputs conform to a baseline quality level E.g. PAS100 (composted materials) and PAS110 (AD outputs)

In summary… There are risks to the supply chain if quality not delivered… Political – high profile service Motivational - householders loose confidence Operational – reduced efficiency/ increased cost Environmental – best outcomes not delivered End Markets - product quality reduced There are different approaches to ensuring quality is delivered

Thank you Further info on: MRFs : Quality compost & digestate:

How well do MRFs perform? In the top 25% of UK MRFs –6% of their input is non-recyclable material –28% of their residue stream could have been recovered In the bottom 25% of UK MRFs –17% of their input is non-recyclable material –80% of their residue stream could have been recovered Contamination in recovered paper (News and PAMS) –75% of UK MRFs produce paper with >4.6% contamination –UK newsprint mills expect <2% contamination Average amount disposed of by UK MRFs is about 13% of input