Archive for December, 2009

2010 – Putting good intentions into practice?

In wishing all our customers, suppliers, contacts and friends throughout the industry a very happy, peaceful and successful 2010, it seems appropriate that we should set a few markers down for the new year.

Whilst world leaders, NGOs, special interest groups and many others flock to Copenhagen to address world environmental issues, here are a few “wishes” that we have rather closer to home:

  • We can take some comfort from the fact that post consumer waste glass volumes have risen over the past 12 months, but we need more of this volume to go where it makes a real carbon reduction impact – to the glass container industry.
  • We will all be driven more by the low carbon agenda, and should therefore adapt our practices to maximise carbon saving. This must become a given.
  • Quality will be drilled down to all levels of the recycling chain, from collection to re-processing. There will be a stronger recognition of inter-dependence, and a realisation that not even the best technology can replace sound collection procedures.

Towards the end of the year we welcomed various reports and campaigns that emphasised the quality issue, and particularly the need for everyone to work together for a common purpose. To that end we shall be shortly announcing our own “Glass Summit” and an invitation to people whose actions and efforts will make a difference to gather around one table to agree a way forward.

Once again, wishing you all a successful 2010.

Mick Keogh
General Manager, Berryman Glass

Berryman welcomes consultations on differentiated glass targets

Indications that Defra will be consulting early next year on setting differentiated targets for glass according to whether it is recycled back into new glass products (remelt) through a ‘closed’ loop system, or used in ‘open’ processes such as road aggregate have been welcomed by leading glass recycler, Berryman Glass.

Berryman’s General Manager, Mick Keogh, comments: “We work hard to satisfy the requirements of all our customers in both the glass and construction industries, but recognise the significant carbon benefit of quality cullet that can be used to produce more bottles and jars as we move towards a carbon based economy.”

The Government’s “Packaging Strategy” document published in June 2009 stated:

Although recycling targets have been met (78% in 2008), a third of the material collected is used for aggregates rather than turned back into containers. Co-mingled collection is not the preferred option for glass as it favours aggregates, and mixed cullet has a lower value than clear cullet, but 15% of authorities currently use this type of kerbside collection. Furthermore, around a quarter of glass packaging is used in the hospitality sector that has recycling rates of between 16% and 21%. The government has said it will consult on maximising the carbon benefits of glass packaging that could potentially include colour-specific producer responsibility targets.

Weight-based targets do not always encourage the use of recycling processes with the greatest carbon reductions. For example, recycling glass into aggregate, rather than back into glass, affords minimal cuts to carbon impact, but counts equally towards weight-based recycling targets.

“ We look forward to a positive outcome following what we hope will be rapid consultation and meaningful incentives to maximise the value of  glass recycling,” adds Mr Keogh.