Glass and PET recycling up across Europe
Recycling of both glass and PET has increased across Europe, though there is still work to be done in the two sectors, according to the trade associations publishing new data.
Glass reaches all-time high
The average recycling rate for glass packaging across the European Union (EU) has hit an all-time high of 73 per cent, according to the European Container Glass Federation (FEVE), though the UK is languishing in the bottom half of performers.
Data from 2013 released by the federation today shows that Denmark has the best rate in the EU-28, recycling 98 per cent of the 150,408 tonnes of glass packaging consumed in the country.
Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria all have rates above 90 per cent.
The UK is the second largest consumer of glass packaging, using 2,399,000 tonnes in 2013 (behind Germany at 2,483,200 tonnes) but, according to the data, only collected the fourth most packaging (1,635,889 tonnes), a rate of 68 per cent – the 17th highest in the EU28.
FEVE highlighted the progress made by Eastern European countries over the year, with several countries recording significant increases on 2012 glass recycling figures, including Estonia (60 to 72 per cent), Slovenia (82 to 87 per cent) and Croatia (49 to 57 per cent).
In total, 15,465,138 tonnes of glass were consumed as packaging in the EU28 over the course of 2013, with 11,825,477 collected for recycling. FEVE says that this corresponds to over 25 billion glass containers.
In 2012, more glass was collected (11,986,674 tonnes), but almost two million more tonnes were produced (17,269,089 tonnes), resulting in a collection rate of 69 per cent.
Commenting on the data, FEVE President Vitaliano Torno said: “The high glass recycling rate of 73 per cent shows that the glass packaging model is the best performing closed-loop business model, but more resources need to be invested to improve glass recycling even further and especially in countries lagging behind.”
Adeline Farrelly, FEVE Secretary General, added: “The same glass can be recycled over and over again. We call on the European Commission to acknowledge bottle-to-bottle multiple recycling in the incoming Circular Economy [Package] proposal: this is key to incentivise real and sustainably sound recycling schemes in the EU and attract investments.”
British Glass, the trade association for the industry in the UK, responded to the results saying: "British Glass is pleased to see an increase in recycling in 2013 in both the UK and the rest of Europe. It is unclear at this time to know how much impact budgetary cuts on Local Authorities will have on future performance. The balance between collection and quality is still an issue for the UK and with the current financial pressures it is unlikely that this will be addressed in the short term."
PET recycling increases despite market issues
Other figures released by PET trade association Petcore Europe state that 1.7 million tonnes of PET bottles and containers were collected for recycling across Europe in 2014, an increase of 6.8 per cent from the 2013 rate.
This represents 57 per cent of the PET packaging placed on the European market in 2014, and is, Petcore Europe says, the equivalent of 66 million 1.5 litre bottles.
PET demand also increased in 2014, with 4.8 per cent more PET (by weight) entering the European market.
However, the Petcore figures, compiled by PCI PET Packaging Resin & Recycling Ltd using a Europe-wide survey of agents in the collection, sorting and recycling of PET, found that the recycling industry operating rate dropped from 2013 to 2014.
With an estimated installed processing capacity of 2.1 million tonnes, the 1.7 million that were recycled in Europe represents a 79 per cent operating rate, down from 83 per cent in 2013.
This, suggests Petcore, ‘illustrates the challenges that the PET industry had to face in 2014, in particular the pricing throughout the recycled PET chain and pressure from low virgin PET resin prices that occurred in the last quarter of the year’.
Commenting on the PET results, Petcore Europe Executive Director Patrick Peuch said: “PET collection and recycling continue to increase and to be a success story over the last 25 years. PET is by far the most recycled plastic material in Europe. However, we can do even better and actively contribute to the European circular economy, especially as PET now penetrates new applications.”
He added: “Although the collection rate increased… over the 2013 rate, it clearly illustrates the need for a two-sided approach.
“On one hand, our industry has to work together to align the collection processes to deliver increased recycling objectives. On the other hand, consumers have to be more engaged. Raising consumers’ awareness on the importance of collection and the value of recycling – especially in the context of the European Commission circular economy approach – and their own role in the process are key.”
Learn more about the European Container Glass Federation (FEVE) and Petcore Europe.
