J&B Recycling Knowledge

Since October 2024, new waste sampling and reporting regulations have been in effect for Materials Recycling Facilities (MRFs) across England and Wales. These changes aim to enhance recycling efficiency, reduce contamination, and align with the UK’s sustainability goals. After several months of implementation, here’s how J&B Recycling has adapted and what these regulations mean for our operations.

What Does This Mean for J&B Recycling?

At J&B Recycling, we’ve always conducted waste audits, but the new regulations have raised the bar for reporting precision and detail. We now classify materials in greater detail - for instance, distinguishing specific types of plastics and separating aluminium aerosols from drink cans. This enhanced categorisation not only ensures compliance but also provides valuable data to refine our processes further.

What Do the Regulations Involve?

The waste sampling regulations require audits at two stages: when materials enter our facility (input) and when they leave (output).

Input Sampling:
We analyse a sample from every 75 tonnes of incoming waste, categorising materials like plastics, metals, and paper with greater specificity. For example, we now identify aluminium aerosols separately from drink cans. This proactive approach allows us to detect contamination before materials are processed, helping to maintain the integrity of our recycling streams.

Output Sampling:
Sorted materials are graded based on quality and compliance with industry standards. This ensures transparency and guarantees that the materials we provide to customers meet the highest quality benchmarks. By consistently improving the quality of recyclables, we’re reducing contamination and contributing to a more sustainable future.

Why Are These Changes Important?

The new regulations deliver significant benefits, with improved recycling accuracy at their core:

• Better Resource Management: Detailed reporting helps industries and policymakers understand material flows, enabling the development of more sustainable practices.
• Improved Industry Standards: By standardising sampling and reporting, the regulations ensure consistency across MRFs in England and Wales, raising the bar for recycling quality.
• Greater Accountability: Clear data on material quality builds trust with customers and stakeholders, demonstrating the industry’s commitment to transparency and high standards.

These regulations bring greater transparency to the recycling industry. The detailed information collected helps identify contamination issues within recycling streams, enabling targeted solutions, such as educating the public on proper recycling practices.

By addressing contamination more effectively, the industry can improve the quality of recycled materials, reduce waste, and support the UK’s climate change and circular economy goals. For J&B Recycling, this is an opportunity to enhance our processes, deliver higher-quality recyclables, and contribute to a greener future.

What Does the Team Think?

Our audit team has been working under the new regulations for several months. Craig Flounders, a banksperson who lead on the roll out operationally, explains: “Our audits haven’t changed drastically - we’re still separating materials into components. But now, we specify more details, like distinguishing aluminium aerosols from drink cans. It’s more frequent and a bit more work, but it’s manageable and helps us improve recycling accuracy.”

Clare Bradley, Material Sales & Compliance Administrator, who inputs the results to share with our partners, including local authorities and the Environment Agency, says, “The new regulations have added a layer of detail to our reporting, which ensures greater transparency and accuracy. It’s a collaborative effort, and the data we provide helps our partners understand the impact of their recycling efforts more clearly. Ultimately, it’s about working together to achieve better environmental outcomes.”

Looking Ahead

The introduction of these regulations represents a positive shift in the recycling industry. At J&B Recycling, we see it as an opportunity to set higher standards for ourselves and the sector as a whole. We’ll continue to keep our community updated on the impact of these changes and the benefits they bring.

For more information on the regulations and their impact, stay tuned to our social media channels!