Recyclers warn about Biodegradable bags

The BPF recycling group (BPFRG), through its films recycling working arm, has warned the government that excluding biodegradable bags from the carrier bag levy would have catastrophic consequences for the UK recycling industry.

BPFRG claims the compromising effects of biodegradable bags on the entire waste stream seriously threatens household film recycling. It says that biodegradable plastic of whatever kind cannot be recycled along with conventional plastics without catastrophic effects. It maintains that the two streams would have to be kept separate and since there is little obvious difference between the plastics, there is a great risk of confusing the wider public. Domestic household film recycling would become a casualty, whilst achieving the government’s 2017 packaging recycling targets would be impossible.

The Group points to a study carried out by the AEA to the Welsh Assembly Government on single use bags (http://wales.gov.uk/docs/desh/publications/091016wastebagreporten.pdf) concluded that: ‘Bio-degradable bags are included under the Irish (bag tax) legislation because they contribute to litter and take some considerable time (months extending to years) to degrade in the natural world. Degradation in landfill may take a considerably longer time.’ Both Wales and Ireland include degradable bags in their levy.

In addition, an Environmental Agency’s Report on Life Cycle Assessment of Supermarket Carrier Bags concludes that ‘The prodegradant additive does not seem to add much benefits and has a negative impact as it increases the weight of the bag if a recycling system is developed for bags it should not be used’.

Bernard Chase, of Regain Polymers, at the BPF’s Annual Recycling conference ‘REPLAST 2013’ last Wednesday said: ‘Since most recycled material goes into long term products, who in their right mind would continue to specify recycled content once degradable plastic was routinely present in the waste stream?’