UK glass recycling has reached "a critical point", says the latest report from British Glass.
“The Glass Recycling Report 2004 – Towards Sustainable Development” says there has “never been a more challenging time” for glass recycling, adding that despite strong demand for recycled glass, stable prices and government funding to local authorities for expanded collection infrastructure, many glass packaging producers still cannot access all the recycled glass that they could use.
Andrew Hartley, British Glass director of strategy and communications, says: “Demand for glass is being driven by the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations, which require the UK to recycle 60% of all glass bottles and jars by 2008. With 2.3m tonnes of glass in the waste stream this means recycling 1.4m tonnes by 2008. Last year the UK recycled around 87,500 tonnes but it has taken over 25 years to reach this level. To reach the target we have to increase glass recycling by more than 120,000 tonnes each year for the next five years.”
For a full copy of the report, visit www.britglass.co.uk, click on News & Events, then British Glass News.