Resources
This Roadmap focuses on how to achieve the target of collecting 90% of glass packaging for recycling in the UK by 2030, with a focus on remelt. It recognises the importance of not only increasing the quantity of glass collected but also the quality – as this impacts the ability to remelt back into glass containers – and that the collection scheme design is pivotal for this.
- Waste management and end markets
- Collections & recycling
- Kerbside collection
- Dry materials
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
- Waste management and reprocessors
- Local Authorities
- National government and departments
- Non-governmental organisations
A new plastic bags and wrapping recycling trial service has been introduced in a select few local areas. A small number of households in selected areas across England will be able to recycle their plastic bags and wrapping from their home.
The trial will be available to a small number of residents at the start, but it will gradually expand to more residents in the selected areas over the next 2-3 years.
- Plastic Packaging
- Eliminating problem plastics
- The UK Plastics Pact
- Film and flexible packaging
- Waste management and end markets
- Retailers and brands
- Waste management and reprocessors
- Local Authorities
- Packaging producers
- National government and departments
A summary of USA packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) developments in during 2023.
- Plastic Packaging
- Eliminating problem plastics
- Plastic packaging design
- Film and flexible packaging
- Waste management and end markets
- Food and drink
- Textiles
- Collections & recycling
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
- Manufacturers
- Retailers and brands
- Waste management and reprocessors
- Local Authorities
- Packaging producers
- National government and departments
The 2022 Plastics Market Situation report updates on the amount of plastic packaging Placed On the Market (POM), collection rates, recycling rates, and provides an update on key developments over the past few years highlighting the challenges and opportunities ahead.
- Fall in plastic packaging placed on the market
- Movement away from rigid plastic packaging towards lightweight and flexible plastics in the consumer sector.
- Domestic recycling of plastic has increased to 53%.
- Planned recycling capacity increases will be a boost but will still fall well below current levels of plastic packaging consumption.
- Collection rates are improving for plastic packaging with more flexible plastic, rigid plastics, plastic bottles and PTTs being collected at kerbside.
- Plastic Packaging
- The UK Plastics Pact
- Plastic packaging design
- Global Plastics Pacts
- Film and flexible packaging
- Waste management and end markets
- Market situation reports
- Manufacturers
- Retailers and brands
- Waste management and reprocessors
- Local Authorities
- Packaging producers
- National government and departments
- Non-governmental organisations
This report details a high level market study into non-mechanical recycling technologies.
- Plastic Packaging
- Plastic packaging design
- Waste management and end markets
- Packaging producers
The project demonstrated the potential to revolutionise waste recycling in a range of countries taking AI technology used in Europe, and using it in the developing world.
- Eliminating problem plastics
- Plastic packaging design
- Global Plastics Pacts
- Film and flexible packaging
- Waste management and end markets
- Manufacturers
- Retailers and brands
- Waste management and reprocessors
- Local Authorities
Indian company Dalmia, working in partnership with Interface, aimed to demonstrate that through mechanical recycling, single-use plastic waste, destined for landfill or incineration, could be turned in to high value applications such as injection moulded car components and packaging.
- Eliminating problem plastics
- Plastic packaging design
- Global Plastics Pacts
- Film and flexible packaging
- Waste management and end markets
- Manufacturers
- Retailers and brands
- Waste management and reprocessors
- Packaging producers
Read how the project helped improve the collection and use of low value plastics such as flexible film packets in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.
Discover how circular waste management practices can contribute to sustainable development.
- Plastic Packaging
- Global Plastics Pacts
- Waste management and end markets
- Waste management and reprocessors
The project has optimised the process which puts waste milk back into high grade products like shampoo sachets.
- Plastic Packaging
- Eliminating problem plastics
- Plastic packaging design
- Global Plastics Pacts
- Film and flexible packaging
- Waste management and end markets
- Hospitality and food service
- Manufacturers
- Retailers and brands
- Waste management and reprocessors
With government plans to introduce mandatory kerbside collections for films and flexibles by 2027 there is a growing need for a consistent terminology to effectively communicate to citizens. Between March 2020 and October 2022 WRAP undertook three rounds of citizen testing to measure the clarity and effectiveness of a wide range in terminology, with a clear preference presenting itself, as well as key principles for communicating positive recycling behaviour.
- Eliminating problem plastics
- The UK Plastics Pact
- Film and flexible packaging
- Waste management and end markets
- Behaviour change interventions
- Collections & recycling
- Consistency in collections
- Service design
- Communicating with residents
- Contamination prevention
- Collections and sorting
- Kerbside collection
- Recycling in urban areas
- Manufacturers
- Retailers and brands
- Waste management and reprocessors
- Local Authorities
- Packaging producers
- Trade associations
- National government and departments
- Non-governmental organisations
A review of plastic waste management practices, life cycle assessments, challenges and opportunities
This report provides an overview of current waste management practices for plastic waste in the UK and critically reviews end of life plastic waste life cycle assessments to highlight best practice waste management methods. The report further identifies challenges and potential solutions to help move UK plastic waste up the waste hierarchy.
- Plastic Packaging
- Eliminating problem plastics
- The UK Plastics Pact
- Global Plastics Pacts
- Waste management and end markets
- Re-use and recycling
Through The UK Plastics Pact we are redesigning the plastics system, working across the entire plastics value chain to reduce its climate impact, by stopping plastic waste, and the harmful emissions of new plastic production, keeping the material in the economy and out of the environment.
We are over halfway to The UK Plastics Pact targets and our 2021-22 annual report gives an honest appraisal of progress and challenges.
- Eliminating problem plastics
- The UK Plastics Pact
- Plastic packaging design
- Global Plastics Pacts
- Reuse and refill
- Film and flexible packaging
- Waste management and end markets
- Collections & recycling
- Consistency in collections
- Contamination prevention
- Collections and sorting
- Kerbside collection
- Re-use
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
- Market situation reports
- Hospitality and food service
- Manufacturers
- Retailers and brands
- Waste management and reprocessors
- Local Authorities
- Packaging producers
- Trade associations
- National government and departments
- Non-governmental organisations