07/02/11 Report for the Welsh Assembly Government compares kerbside sort and commingled recycling systems
Kerbside sort outperforms co-mingled collections at higher recycling rates
7th February 2011
A detailed study looking at the relative performance of different types of household recycling collection services shows that it is both cheaper and environmentally preferable to sort materials manually at the kerbside than it is to collect everything mixed and then sort it mechanically.
Eunomia, supported by Resource Futures and HCW Consultants, was commissioned by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) to examine the relative merits of different dry recycling collection systems in relation to WAG’s sustainability objectives. The study compared the impacts of rolling out co-mingled, two-stream or kerbside sort collection systems across the whole of Wales, taking account of the overall financial, environmental and social impacts associated with each collection system.
Key conclusions that can be drawn from the study are:
- Our analysis suggests that co-mingled and two-stream collection systems could be expected to achieve higher yields of collected dry recyclables, relative to kerbside sorting. However, when material rejected at the MRF, by secondary processors and by reprocessors is taken into account, differences in the tonnage actually recycled between the systems appears to be marginal.
- Improved environmental outcomes are associated with the typical fates of kerbside sorted material compared to co-mingled and two-stream material, both in terms of benefits of recycling and impacts of onward transportation.
- In terms of financial cost, when optimised systems are compared for all options, kerbside sorting does appear to have the potential to offer a lower overall cost.
- The advantages of kerbside sorting appear to increase as recycling performance increases. In turn, the advantage of two-stream over co-mingled collection appears to narrow as performance increases.
- These results suggest that Welsh local authorities will face a challenge in adapting collection systems that may work well now, but may become increasingly sub-optimal as recycling levels increase towards the 70% target.
Download the full report here: Kerbside Collections Options: Wales
Joe Papineschi, the director for this project said: “we are not expecting this is going to be last word on the subject, but it is probably the most comprehensive study of its kind and considers evidence in some key areas, particularly around exactly what happens to materials after they are collected. We hope that WAG and the local authorities in Wales find it a positive contribution to shaping future waste services in Wales”.
Notes for Editors
Media queries:
Emily Moulson
Eunomia Research & Consulting
Tel: +44 (0) 117 917 2250
E-mail: emily.moulson@eunomia.co.uk
Website: www.eunomia.co.uk
Notes
Established in 2001, Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd (‘Eunomia’) is a Bristol-based, employee-owned consultancy dedicated to adding value to organisations through the delivery of improved outcomes. Working throughout the UK, other EU Member States and beyond, Eunomia’s consultants have experience and expertise in environmental, technical and commercial disciplines. Eunomia’s main service areas include:
- Waste management;
- Low carbon and renewable energies;
- Resource efficiency; and
- Climate change adaptation.
Eunomia is an appointed advisor to many types of organisations including central government, local and regional authorities, national utilities, waste management and technology companies and global financial institutions.
Eunomia has 28 employees in the UK, and a further satellite office in Auckland, New Zealand, which is headed up by a former UK member of staff.
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