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You and Yours: Recycling

Recycling

06/04/2015

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, Recycling

A look at recycling in the UK, including plastics and food recycling. With Melanie Abbott.

Consumer affairs programme. A look at recycling in the UK, from recent closures in the plastics industry to the growth of small companies which recycle food. With Melanie Abbott.

In recent months two plastic recycling firms have hit financial problems and the value of reused newsprint has also dropped dramatically. The price of re-cycled plastic has fallen by around 40 per cent over the past nine months to around £300 to £500 a tonne. Pricier than virgin plastic. The situation isn't helped by the fact that many countries that buy re-cycled plastic are currently in recession. Our reporter Bob Walker has been looking into this.

It sounds like the economics of recycling may not add up - or at least not in this current snapshot in time. To help us discuss some of the issues are guests Robin Latchem, the Editor of Materials Recycling World, Jacob Hayler the Executive Director of the environmental services association which represents waste collectors and processors and James Fulford, Director of Eunomia, an independent environmental consultancy.

Six years ago the European union introduced the improbably named Weee directive. It stands for waste, electrical and electronic equipment. And basically says things like fridges, washing machines and so on shouldn't end up in landfill. They contain hazardous chemicals which need to be specially treated. But it's emerged that some scrap metal dealers are handling them illegally. Our presenter Melanie Abbott went to an electrical recycling plant to find out more.

There are seven big companies operating in the waste collection industry. One of them is the French company Veolia. It has over 55 facilities in the UK and Ireland. And does everything from running municipal tips to recycling. We talk to Estelle Brachlianoff, Senior Executive Vice-President of Veolia in the UK & Ireland.

The average family in the UK wastes £60 worth of food every month. That's an entire meal every day. The charity Love Food Hate Waste wants people to think more about the food they're chucking in the bin. To do that they've recruited TV Chef Richard Fox. He's been visiting towns across Greater Manchester teaching people to cook with their leftover dinners, squidgy fruit and browning veggies. Our reporter Lydia Thomas went to meet him at a cooking demonstration in Bolton Market.

Editor: Chas Watkin
Producer: Maire Devine.

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