London: A new report by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) claims that exporting the UK's plastics to China in containers presents a greener option than those currently available in the country, according to Plastics & Rubber Weekly. The survey found that household recycling has surged but the UK cannot reprocess all of it.
However, Wrap found that sending PET/HDPE bottles to China accounted for on average less than a third of the C02 saved by recycling or sending it to landfill and using brand new materials
Additionally, the project would benefit container lines by providing business for vessels carrying empty containers on the return route from the UK to China. The study - carried out by consultancy Oakdene Hollins and reviewed by the ERM consultancy - also made a similar argument for paper recycling.
Wrap ceo, Liz Goodwin, said: "It may seem strange that transporting our unwanted paper and plastic bottles such a distance would actually be better for the environment but that is what the evidence from this study shows." [20/08/08]
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