Plastic waste handling

HOW PLASTIC WASTE IS HANDLED: SEGREGATED:

Devon County Council have stated that “Plastics segregated at HWRCs are sent to reprocessors. In 2017/18 1,327 tonnes of plastic waste was sent to reprocessors.”

What exactly does this tonnage of plastic waste represent?

The tonnage figure previously provided is the amount of plastics collected for recycling at the Devon County Council Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in 2017/18.

What is the data for the percentage of “segregated” as opposed to “unsegregated” plastic?

Devon County Council does not hold this information.

What percentage does not go into reprocessing? [e.g.: black plastics]

Devon County Council does not hold this information.

What percentage goes to incineration in Devon, in the UK and abroad?

Devon County Council does not hold this information.

What percentage is sold on the open market?

Devon County Council does not hold this information.

What residual is disposed of as landfill waste? And what steps are taken to ensure that none of this residual escapes to pollute the environment?

Any plastics not separated for Recycling at Devon County Council’s network of HWRCs would be placed in the residual waste container and then go for either Landfill Disposal or recovery via an Energy from Waste Plant. Such sites/facilities are regulated by the Environment Agency who ensure adequate controls are in place to prevent pollution of the environment.

What are the “other methods of disposal” used, which your text refers to?

Landfill or Energy from Waste

What percentage of plastic is made into other goods? What type of goods?

Devon County Council does not hold this information.

What is the lifespan of these new plastic items? [eg: of carpet backing] Which of these new plastic items are themselves recyclable?

Devon County Council does not hold this information.

HOW PLASTIC WASTE IS HANDLED: UNSEGREGATED:
What percentage goes to incineration in Devon, in the UK and abroad?

Devon County Council does not hold this information.

What percentage is sold on the open market?

Devon County Council does not hold this information.

What residual is disposed of as landfill waste? And what steps are taken to ensure that none of this residual escapes to pollute the environment?

Any plastics not separated for Recycling at DCCs network of HWRCs would be placed in the residual waste container and then go for either Landfill Disposal or recovery via an Energy from Waste Plant. Such sites/facilities are regulated by the Environment Agency who ensure adequate controls are in place to prevent pollution of the environment.

What are the “other methods of disposal” used, which your text refers to?

Landfill or Energy from Waste

DETAILS OF REPROCESSORS:
> Could you provide me with more details about the “reprocessors” you send the plastic to?
> Could you give me their full postal addresses and website addresses?
> As regards my earlier question as to the “exact functions of these reprocessors”, I meant: What plastics do they reprocess and what exactly do they do with them? Have there been any changes to the original list of reprocessors since you first provided it?
• Viridor Rochester PRF
• Mononworld Recycling
• Wastecare
• Regenthill
• Kempenaars
• Empark Recycling Ltd

The current list (with addresses) of plastics reprocessors used by our HWRC contractor is as follows. Devon County Council does not hold details on website addresses or their processing techniques:-

• Mixed Plastics Packaging – bottles/pots/tubs/trays etc:
Viridor Rochester Plastics Recovery Facility – VIRIDOR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT LTD
Pelican Reach ( Plot L), Royal Eagle Close, Medway City Estate, Rochester, Kent, ME2 4NF

• Bulky Plastics (eg plastic garden furniture etc)

SK Polymers BV
Boosstraat 77, 4704rl, Roosendaal, Netherlands

VAN WERVEN UK LIMITED
Whitemore Business Park Cliffe Common Selby
Y08 6EG

CONTRACTUAL INFORMATION AND AUDITING PROCESSES:
I would nevertheless like to know: What systems do you use to keep track of the plastic to ensure that it is properly dealt with, from it leaving the sorting/ grading process to the final end-use?

Devon County Council do not have any systems in place; this is specifically controlled/covered by waste management legislation, especially the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the associated Duty of Care. The Waste Industry is regulated by the Environment Agency.

In order to ascertain the systems which the Council use to ensure that the “correct reprocessor” is taken on, that the plastic is “sorted into different grades” and that it is “turned into new plastic items”, I would like to ask you to provide me with: 

a) the full, unredacted tendering and contractual documentation made between you and the reprocessors;

Devon County Council does not hold contracts with the reprocessors.

b) the full, unredacted tendering and contractual documentation made between you and the contractors operating the HWRCs.

Please see the contractual documentation attached via the link below:

Contract

 I would also like you to provide me with any documentation relating to auditing of these contractual agreements. By auditing, I mean the mechanisms by which the reprocessors can be made fully accountable and the systems by which compliance is reported back to the Council.

Devon County Council does not hold this information.