The UK’s recycling future is at a crossroads

The UK’s recycling future is at a crossroads

The UK could face a £750 million shortfall in PET recycling infrastructure, according to Enviroo, which says urgent investment is needed to meet future demand for food-grade recycled plastic. The warning comes as the introduction of the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is expected to increase the collection of PET bottles, creating greater demand for domestic recycling capacity. Enviroo believes that without significant investment, the UK will be unable to process the additional material required to support a circular economy. The company says the investment gap represents the funding needed to develop enough recycling infrastructure to keep pace with growing demand for recycled PET. It argues that expanding domestic capacity would help ensure more plastic bottles are recycled into new food-grade packaging within the UK. Enviroo is urging greater investment in recycling infrastructure to support the transition towards a more circular packaging system and help meet future demand for recycled materials. As the packaging industry prepares for major regulatory and market changes, the report highlights the importance of building the infrastructure needed to support long-term recycling ambitions.