EIR Request - Waste and Recycling

Request 101002073120

Please could I request the following information under FOI/EIR legislation for the years 2017 and, separately, 2018 (or 2016/17 and 2017/18 if it’s recorded that way):

a) Out of what you collect as recyclables, what percent is reported back to you from the re-processors as contaminated ie contaminated by non-recyclable materials? Please break this down into type of material if possible.

b) What levels of contamination do you expect contractors to deal with in your recyclable commodities ie what percentage they do not report back to you?

c) Do you claim the percentages in a) and b) in your published recycling figures?

d) What are the end destinations (not intermediate sorting facilities) of the household waste and recyclables you collect, broken down by material?

Response 07-03-2019

a. Our co-mingled cans and plastic collections are segregated at our own MRF. We currently have approx. 7% contamination level. The contamination is then treated as waste and sent to our land fill site. This also means that the contamination levels sent to our re-processors is minimal.

Our mixed paper & card loads are visually examined before dispatching and the bulk of contaminates removed. As a result we have only had 3 incidents of excessive contamination levels reported in the last 3 years.

b. We do not have any predetermined levels of contamination that we expect contractors to accept. All loads should meet the criteria of the MRF Code of Practise.

c. No, rejected loads are not counted as recycled materials.

d.