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Recycling

Consumer affairs programme. A look at recycling in the UK, from recent closures in the plastics industry to the growth of small companies which recycle food. With Melanie Abbott.

In recent months two plastic recycling firms have hit financial problems and the value of reused newsprint has also dropped dramatically. The price of re-cycled plastic has fallen by around 40 per cent over the past nine months to around 拢300 to 拢500 a tonne. Pricier than virgin plastic. The situation isn't helped by the fact that many countries that buy re-cycled plastic are currently in recession. Our reporter Bob Walker has been looking into this.

It sounds like the economics of recycling may not add up - or at least not in this current snapshot in time. To help us discuss some of the issues are guests Robin Latchem, the Editor of Materials Recycling World, Jacob Hayler the Executive Director of the environmental services association which represents waste collectors and processors and James Fulford, Director of Eunomia, an independent environmental consultancy.

Six years ago the European union introduced the improbably named Weee directive. It stands for waste, electrical and electronic equipment. And basically says things like fridges, washing machines and so on shouldn't end up in landfill. They contain hazardous chemicals which need to be specially treated. But it's emerged that some scrap metal dealers are handling them illegally. Our presenter Melanie Abbott went to an electrical recycling plant to find out more.

There are seven big companies operating in the waste collection industry. One of them is the French company Veolia. It has over 55 facilities in the UK and Ireland. And does everything from running municipal tips to recycling. We talk to Estelle Brachlianoff, Senior Executive Vice-President of Veolia in the UK & Ireland.

The average family in the UK wastes 拢60 worth of food every month. That's an entire meal every day. The charity Love Food Hate Waste wants people to think more about the food they're chucking in the bin. To do that they've recruited TV Chef Richard Fox. He's been visiting towns across Greater Manchester teaching people to cook with their leftover dinners, squidgy fruit and browning veggies. Our reporter Lydia Thomas went to meet him at a cooking demonstration in Bolton Market.

Editor: Chas Watkin
Producer: Maire Devine.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • Recycling Business Closures

    How are businesses within the recycling industry faring?

    Duration: 05:39

  • State of Recycling in the UK

    Our panel of experts assess the efficacy of the UK's recycling industry

    Duration: 04:31

  • Designing-out waste

    Could we meet EU targets on recycling by designing products to be more easily recycled?

    Duration: 04:38

  • Recycling Fridges

    We hear concerns that a significant number of fridges aren't disposed of responsibly

    Duration: 09:26

  • Veolia

    Estelle Brachlianoff is Senior Executive Vice-President of Veolia in the UK & Ireland

    Duration: 04:48

  • Food Waste

    Charity Love Food Hate Waste and an entrepreneur who's making chutney from unwanted veg

    Duration: 09:34

Broadcast

  • Mon 6 Apr 2015 12:16

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