Disappointing Recycling Delay

Last year, hundreds of Wirral residents took part in a pilot scheme to collect film plastics. It was expected that all Councils would soon have to recycle plastics such as crisp packets, bread wrappers and flexible plastic packaging. But now, this requirement has been put on hold.

Councillor Allan Brame said, "The government has delayed the roll-out of this scheme until 2030, as  the UK currently lacks sufficient sorting and reprocessing capacity. Many Wirral households demonstrated that they were keen to separate flexible plastics, but only if the material they sort can be properly recycled.

"In another twist, by then time the scheme goes live, we may well not need to take part. By then Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority should have a state-of-the-art processing plant at Gillmoss which will be able to accept the whole range of plastics without prior sorting.”

Meanwhile, although film plastic can't yet go in the grey bins, most supermarkets will accept it for recycling as there is sufficient processing capacity for this smaller quantity.