A survey of schemes in the United Kingdom collecting plastic bottles for recycling

The Environment Act imposes a legal requirement for plastic packaging to be recycled. Recycling of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET)I pol yvinyl chloride (PVC) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles is expec ted to make a significant contribution to the Environment Act's national ta rget of 15% recycling of plastic packaging waste by 2001. This paper summar ises the findings of a national survey of local authority post-consumer pla stic bottle recycling schemes conducted at the end of 1997, establishing an overview of UK activity. Areas investigated include; the type, distributio n and efficacy of schemes. Survey results are considered in the light of ex perience in the UK and abroad. Whilst plastic bottle recycling has grown ra pidly since 1990, projections based on current recycling rates and local au thority plans suggest that further assistance will be required for the 2001 target to be met. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.