The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) has confirmed the formal launch of OUR PAPER, a new programme to support councils in improving the quality and quantity of paper and card separately collected for recycling. It is an initiative that promotes the value of paper that local councils collect on behalf of the public – a resource that generates income from recycling services.
OUR PAPER has been devised in partnership with WRAP and supports their valuable work on recycling consistency. It will encourage councils to consider service review and will promote the benefits of separate collection of paper and card, highlighting opportunities for maximising efficiency and the cost savings potential from other changes in recycling services. It will use evidence generated by the WRAP consistency project to demonstrate a business case for this approach.
Coming after the launch of the new Resources and Waste Strategy for England and in the wake of new, ambitious targets for recycling, OUR PAPER will also brief councils on the significant changes in recycling markets emerging as a result of the China waste ban and the evolving situation in other South East Asian markets. It has engaged Ray Georgeson to spearhead the programme, supported by a Steering Group from CPI, its’ members and WRAP and chaired by Sarah Raymond of Palm Recycling. The programme is fully funded by CPI and its members with an anticipated three-year lifespan.
The programme had a soft launch in the late autumn at the SOLACE Summit for local authority chief executives. OUR PAPER is now formally launched with a market briefing for councils and an open offer of support. Further briefing and potential assistance for individual councils that are looking for help in understanding the changing policy landscape and market situation is also available.
Ray Georgeson commented, “I am delighted to be working with CPI and WRAP on this timely initiative to councils. Ensuring ever improving quality and quantity of paper and card for recycling has never been more important – recent events in China and SE Asia have shown that starkly. The message remains simple – paper and card recycling are the backbone of most kerbside recycling services, improving quality and quantity is good for the environment, good for council taxpayers and good for British manufacturing using high-quality recovered fibre to build the circular economy.”
Sarah Raymond, Chair of the OUR PAPER Steering Group added, “The coming months and years will see significant changes in the way we manage recycling. Future developments in Extended Producer Responsibility, food waste collection and enhanced consistency of collections are rising up councils’ agendas with forthcoming Defra consultations on all these issues. Combined with huge market changes in the ability to export materials, it is a critical opportunity to future proof fibre recycling collections as the centrepiece of kerbside systems, taking every opportunity to make savings as well. Our aim is to provide guidance and support and help local councils produce the material we need for a healthy British recycling industry.”
Sue Reed, Collections and Recycling Manager for WRAP explains, “WRAP is pleased to see the paper and card reprocessing industries join forces and support our work on getting even more value out of recycling collections, building on and supporting our Framework for greater consistency in household recycling.”
OUR PAPER has commenced a programme of outreach, communication and market briefings to local authorities and is available to any interested local authority for initial briefings. Where further support is subsequently identified, CPI will work with WRAP to identify bespoke support on a case-by-case basis, alongside WRAP’s existing support programme for councils on consistency.
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