The latest statistics from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) reveal a worrying trend in England’s recycling efforts.
With local recycling rates stagnating or declining, calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the recycling system have become more urgent.
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Josh Pitman, Managing Director at Priory Direct, shared his insights into the underlying causes and potential solutions in an exclusive interview.
A decline in recycling performance
DEFRA’s 2022-2023 figures highlight a decline in recycling rates across England, a trend that reflects a significant challenge for local authorities. According to Pitman, “The average recycling rate has dropped from 44% to 43%, with the majority of councils nationwide either stagnating or falling in their recycling rates.”
Even high-performing boroughs have not been immune to this decline.
“If you look at the five councils that recycled the highest proportion of municipal waste in this period, four of them recorded a year-on-year drop,” Pitman pointed out, noting the exception of Stratford-upon-Avon District Council, which saw a modest 3% increase, bringing its recycling rate to 59.9%.
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By GlobalDataAt the other end of the spectrum, low-performing councils showed even more significant drops, with Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council as the sole exception, improving its rate by just 0.1%. Pitman explained, “The statistics demonstrate a worrying trend within England’s recycling infrastructure.”
Causes of stagnation
The stagnation in recycling rates, according to Pitman, is driven by multiple factors, including increased packaging waste from the booming ecommerce sector.
“The ecommerce market is growing, and more packaging is entering household waste streams. While businesses and consumers are shifting towards reusable or recyclable alternatives, this has placed additional stress on a recycling system that is already struggling to meet demand,” he explained.
Pitman also highlighted inflation as an aggravating factor, noting its impact on council tax revenues, which in turn affects funding for recycling services. “Councils are in a difficult situation,” he said, “as inflation erodes council tax yields, leaving them with fewer resources to invest in recycling initiatives.”
The disparity between local recycling systems is another significant issue. Pitman stressed that with each borough operating its own system, confusion is rife among consumers. “Some councils are better than others at providing clear information on recycling, but misleading packaging labelling, particularly for plastics, adds to the challenge.”
Centralising recycling systems: a path forward
Pitman is a strong advocate for centralising the recycling system, arguing that this would greatly enhance efficiency and effectiveness. “Standardising the collection and sorting approach across the country would vastly increase our material handling efficiency, leading to lower costs and more effective recycling,” he said.
Centralising not just infrastructure but also legislation would allow for more consistent investment and greater economies of scale.
Pitman also stressed the importance of incentivising consumer behaviour. “We have the capacity to recycle 95% of our paper waste, yet we only achieve around 75% due to consumer habits. Initiatives like deposit return schemes, bin checks, fines, or incentives could help improve these figures.”
When asked about the challenges surrounding soft plastics, Pitman pointed to the limited capacity for recycling this type of waste in the UK. “Around 665,000 tonnes of soft plastic are generated each year, yet only 10,000 tonnes can be processed through the household recycling system.”
He added that contamination, particularly with food waste, and a lack of education on recyclable materials further complicate matters. “There is no uniformity in the types of plastics used in packaging, which adds to the confusion for consumers,” Pitman remarked.
Collaboration for lasting change
In Pitman’s view, lasting improvement will require collaboration between the government and local authorities, alongside significant investment. “What’s needed is investment and greater economies of scale in our recycling infrastructure,” he stated.
By relieving pressure on local authorities and implementing a centralised system, greater efficiencies could be achieved.
“The move to introduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a step in the right direction,” Pitman added. “What is measured can be managed, and EPR will force companies to take greater accountability for the lifecycle of their packaging.”
He also emphasised that improving municipal and commercial recycling infrastructure is not just about managing waste but also about addressing the climate crisis. “Recycled plastic uses less than half the energy compared with producing new plastics, so investment in recycling is a win for both waste management and emissions reduction.”
As England faces stagnation in its recycling rates, Pitman’s insights make it clear that a more unified and well-funded approach is needed to reverse the downward trend.
Without swift action, the current system will struggle to keep pace with rising demand and evolving consumer behaviour.
