Segregating plastics – improve your rebate!
Segregating your plastic could drastically improve your rebate.
Accurately and efficiently segregating your plastics could save you money, as the cost of the Knapzak segregation system would more than pay for itself due to the drastically higher rebate rate.
Most of the plastic film used and recycled in the UK is exported for processing, usually to China.
Hand sorting and processing is carried out overseas and some contaminated material will still be recycled. Material is usually expected to be baled in various grades, light or heavy and in various grades of contamination, from little through to heavily contaminated.
The table below shows the difference in price for exported plastic film with a 95:5 per cent contamination compared with a 98:2 per cent contamination ratio.
| Tonne per month | Export price 95:5 | Export price 98:2 |
| 1 | £27.50 | £175.00 |
| 3 | £82.50 | £525.00 |
| 5 | £137.50 | £875.00 |
*all figures are approx. based on median price of exported plastic film as of October 2017
Just a 3% reduction in contamination could result in generating £737.50 more per month, for 5 tonnes of plastic film for export. That could mean an increase of £8,850.00 per year!
The table below shows how sharply the rebate rates have been falling in recent months, it is now even more important than ever to segregate in order to achieve the maximum value for your waste.
| 2017 £ per tonne | July | August | September | October |
| UK PE Printed | 200 – 230 | 180 – 210 | 170 – 200 | 170 – 190 |
| UK PP Printed | 40 – 65 | 30 – 55 | 20 – 45 | 20 – 45 |
| UK Clear – Natural | 310 – 340 | 290 – 320 | 280 – 310 | 270 – 300 |
| Export 80:20 | 0 – 20 | 0 | -40 – 0 | -50 – -10 |
| Export 90:10 | 50 – 70 | 20 – 60 | 0 – 30 | 0 – 20 |
| Export 95:5 | 80 – 100 | 60 – 80 | 20 – 50 | 15 – 40 |
| Export 98:2 | 210 – 240 | 190 – 220 | 180 – 200 | 165 – 185 |
Segregating Plastics with the Knapzak System
The Knapzak system is simple and efficient way to segregate your waste at source. This improves staff efficiency by ensuring the waste only needs to be handled once.
The system consists of perforated, transparent bags (Knapzaks) and Knapholders.
The perforation of the bags makes them ideal for baling as they compress down further allowing more plastic to be baled at one time. This in turn will reduce the cost of the waste collection but also maximise the recycling revenue that you receive.
We have installation solutions available for locations as varied as lorries, distribution warehouses and shop floors.
To find out if the system could benefit your business and increase your rebates, contact us here.
Source:
https://www.letsrecycle.com/prices/plastics/plastic-film/plastic-film-2017/