Avery Associates

House Clearance & Probate Valuation Services


  • HOME
  • HOUSE CLEARANCE
    • Probate House Clearance
    • House Clearance
    • FAQ
    • Hoarder House Clearance
    • Garden Clearance
    • Charity Donations
    • Recycling
    • House Clearance Gallery
    • Our Locations
  • PROBATE VALUATIONS
    • PROBATE HELP
      • Probate Valuation Guide Fees & Advice
      • Probate House Clearance
      • Executor Assistance
      • Solicitor Assistance
      • Our Locations
    • Probate Valuation Explained
    • RICS Property Valuation
    • Classic Cars
    • Jewellery
    • Coins
    • Books
    • Stamps
    • Vintage Toys
    • Records
  • REVIEWS
  • NEWS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT

What makes plastic recycling so confusing

November 9, 2019 By Robert McQueen

While most of us are trying our best to recycle plastic, the collection methods in place by councils across the UK continue to sow confusion over what can and cannot be recycled. Plans are now in place in England to ensure improved plastic recycling methods, but strategy for the remainder of the UK remains under review.

Councils generally collect plastic recycling differently. Research reveals almost forty sets of rules applying to the plastic recycling recovery process. The general rules in place confirm that:

# Most collect bottles

# Some collect plastic trays, pots and tubs

# Others encourage the collection of a much wider range of plastic recycling

The Plastic Types

Clear PET and less expensive opaque HDPE moulds are the commonest plastic bottles and these are easy to collect and recycle. Typically, polypropylene comprises the omnipresent fast food trays, which are an easily made by-product.

However, not all councils have access to facilities that use low-density polyethylene (LDPE) technology when it comes to some carrier bags and cling film. Mostly, plastic discards are easy to process but prove more difficult to sort as they often contain contaminated leftover food. That is quite ironic as the original design aimed to protect the food content.

Certain Plastics worth More in Recycle Parlance

According to statistical data gathered in November 2018, the maximum price per tonne of plastic waste is:

# Natural HDPE – £375

# Clear and light blue PET – £145

# Coloured HDPE – £110

# Coloured PET and Mixed Plastic – £30 respectively

What Makes Plastic Recycling so Confusing

Not all plastics can be recycled, not that it is necessarily economical to dispose of the discards. Moreover:

# Bottles attract the best prices, especially clear ones, which is why almost all councils recycle them

# Coloured plastic is less desirable because colour is impossible to remove, restricting reuse

# Polystyrene is almost never recycled simply because there is no market for it

Most bottles will recycle under current reprocessing technology in the UK. However, plastic that is less valuable (about two-thirds collected for recycling) ends up in refill sites overseas and this figure has been rising worryingly. Certain countries are refusing to take any foreign waste.

Specifically China, Malaysia, and Vietnam have banned waste imports, and Thailand will join them in 2021. These bans are affecting prices paid for waste plastic. Moreover, prices of the more contaminated plastics have fallen below zero, meaning contractors now expect payment to dispose of the problem waste.

The National Audit Office reported that the plastic sent abroad could be highly contaminated, meaning it may not prove suitable for reprocessing and could end up in landfill or contributing to pollution. This is a pollution disaster waiting to happen.

Waste plastic collection methods differ from one council to the next. For example:

# Some councils ask households to separate their plastics from the rest of their recycling, whereas…

# Other local authorities collect all their recycling in one bin

Councils also subcontract different companies to collect and sort the recycling material, including plastic discards. Recycling rules certainly differ between councils. Some allow residents to recycle margarine tubs, while the neighbouring council may not. This often results in confusion particularly for newcomers moving into a new neighbourhood.

Understand the Rules Applied by Your Local Authority

Regardless of whether you have lived in the area for years, or are a newcomer, acquaint yourself with the rules set by your local council. Most authorities are keen to engage local residents, and get them thinking and supporting effective recycling programmes.

Uppermost is getting the scourge of single-use plastics properly under control. This begins with a responsible attitude from each resident regardless of where they happen to live. Let’s change from kicking the can down the road to recycling it!

Related

Filed Under: Recycling News Tagged With: and Vietnam have banned waste imports, China, house clearance recycling, Malaysia, opaque HDPE moulds are the commonest plastic bottles, plastic recycling, types of plastic waste

Our House Clearance Services

We provide a full house clearance and property management solution:

  • We clear hoarded houses, regardless how big or how cluttered
  • We clear all types and sizes of property, irrespective of location, or access is restricted or where parking is difficult or not available.
  • We can help avoid water damage by draining the central heating system.
  • We can secure the property and change the locks.
  • We can reinstate the gardens and maintain them whilst the property is empty.
  • We can provide 24 hour security to eliminate the risk of squatting or unlawful occupation.

As well normal house clearances we specialise in clutter clearance and we can clear a hoarded house which may contain years of accumulated possessions, or which have abnormal amounts of general household items, sometimes as a result of compulsive hoarding syndrome.

Equally we can help to clear a property where the occupants were previously unwell and unable to care for themselves or their property which sometimes results in insanitary, dangerous or just plain unpleasant conditions.

More info

What We Do

Get A Quick Quote

Client Reviews

Jenny Schon
Dec 3, 2021
 by Jenny Schon on Avery Associates
Well done

This truly is a 'one stop shop' for all things relating to Probate valuations and clearance. Jeffrey is a 'facilitator' and full marks to him for finding... Read More

Kevin Anderson
Oct 26, 2021
 by Kevin Anderson on Avery Associates
Fantastic and Reliable

Our aunt was a recluse and hoarder. She died leaving two properties in London that were dilapidated and completely hoarded. Unfortunately, because everything... Read More

It was a pleasure to assist Kevin

T. Hackett
Aug 26, 2021
 by T. Hackett on Avery Associates
1st Class Service

Avery Associates Appraisal I have just moved house after almost 30 years of occupation. My initial choice of movers, Pickfords, decided at the last... Read More

Page 1 of 44:
«
 
‹
 
1
2
3
›
 
»
 

Share, Email or Print

Looking For Something?

Our Latest News & Advice

  • Thought I Had Seen Everything Until I Visited Walsall
  • How to Apply for Probate in England and Wales
  • England’s Ambitious Waste Plan by Jeffrey Avery


Avery Associates
291 Mitcham Rd
Tooting SW179JQ

Tel: 0800 567 7769 or 0208 640 0044

Services provided throughout London and the Home Counties. View our clearance case studies.


Website Terms | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Copyright © 2005-2018 Avery Associates
Website Development by Avara Web Media