British Glass Challenges Incpen Report

It claims that the energy savings form packaging recycling are of little benefit when compared with those that could be made if people drove less and turned down the central heating.

Andrew Hartley, director of strategy & communications for packaging at British Glass said: “The publicity generated by the INCPEN report is not helpful, especially at a time when large amounts of taxpayers money are being invested by DEFRA through WRAP’s three year, £30m public awareness campaign. A campaign intended to encourage greater awareness and improve public participation in recycling packaging waste.

“Whilst INCPEN is correct to point out the large environmental benefits of the public making small lifestyle changes it should not do so by rubbishing their recycling efforts and potentially turning them off recycling.”

He added: “In addition the report is misleading, the benefits of packaging recycling are significant. In 2003 we estimate that 875,000 tonnes of glass container waste was recycled. Every tonne that was returned to UK manufacturers for recycling into new bottles and jars saved 345 Kwhs of energy and reduced CO2 emissions by 266 kilograms. It also saved one tonne of waste going to landfill and 1.2 tonnes of virgin raw material from being quarried.

“What is needed is an approach that recognises the benefits of both lifestyle changes and packaging recycling as well as other environmentally beneficial practices.”

Notes to editors· The British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation represents the interests of all sectors of the glass industry in the UK. Its main activity is in representing the industry at European, national and local level on a wide range of topical legislative issues. It also conducts independent research into all aspects of glass production and technology.

· British Glass is a separate entity from BGRC, British Glass Recycling Company, which is wholly owned by United Glass, one of the UK’s seven glass container manufacturers.