Agency tries to ease recycling ‘crisis’

Waste companies will be able to store recyclables without having to apply for a variation to their permit, the Environment Agency announced on Tuesday.
The Agency made the announcement in response to the “unprecedented… downturn in demand and price for some recyclable material” caused by the gathering recession. Chinese demand for recyclables has dropped dramatically and it is only accepting high quality materials.
Since mid-October, prices for most recyclables have plummeted. Mixed paper is trading for around £1 per tonne, down from £50 in the summer. Steel manufacturer Corus is paying nothing for cans, down from £235 per tonne in July. The company recently announced a 30% cut in production across Europe.
The drop in prices has led councils and the waste industry to call for a relaxation of rules around the storage of recyclable materials.
The Environment Department (DEFRA) held meetings with the Agency, the government’s Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the Local Government Association on Monday and Tuesday. Waste industry trade body the Environmental Services Association was also present.
On Tuesday, DEFRA, the Agency and WRAP issued a joint statement stressing the need to “maintain public confidence that recycling is worthwhile” and “to ensure continuity of collection systems for recyclables”. “We expect that there may be increased storage of some materials,” it added.
Following this statement, the Agency issued a regulatory position statement easing the rules on storage of materials.
Operators who hold a permit and expect to need additional storage for up to six months “should approach their local… area officer to discuss a temporary increase in storage,” it says. If they expect the need to be longer than six months, they should apply for a permit variation.
The position statement also points out that operators may be able to take advantage of exemptions under the environmental permitting regulations. These allow the secure storage of paper, cans, plastic and other materials for up to 12 months as long as it will be sent for recovery.

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