FPF FlexCollect - the UK’s biggest flexible plastic household collection and recycling pilot goes live

FPF FlexCollect will run for three years in two stages. An initial ‘Pioneer Stage’ will involve pilots at four local authorities, with a further five local authorities joining them for an ‘Industrialisation Stage’ six months later, building on the knowledge gained during the first stage.

Cheltenham Borough Council is the first local authority to join the Pioneer stage, with the other local authorities currently being recruited. Participating local authorities are set to benefit from cross-industry expertise and financial support that will run-up to the implementation of packaging Extended Producer Responsibility and consistent recycling collections legislation, easing their transition. These early adopters will also be able to meet increasing consumer demand for better recycling provision, with an enhanced service that will improve their performance.

Crucially, the data and insights provided by FPF FlexCollect will be published to help support local authorities introduce new collections, as well as stimulate the development of end markets and domestic reprocessing infrastructure. It is also fully aligned with the WRAP-led UK Plastics Pact ‘Roadmap 2025: Creating a circular economy for flexible plastic packaging’.

Deepen and accelerate understanding of the flexible plastics recycling chain

Commenting on the initiative, Resources and Waste Minister Jo Churchill said "Plastic films and flexible packaging make up a huge proportion of our waste and we all want to see more of this material recycled. Our plans to introduce consistency in recycling and encourage more recyclable packaging through extended producer responsibility will significantly reduce the amount of plastic polluting our natural environment. This innovative project will provide valuable evidence to support our proposals to roll out nationwide collections of plastic film from all households and businesses."

Cathy Cook, Chair of LARAC commented "LARAC enthusiastically supports the FPF FlexCollect project. We took a position in our responses to the consultations for the Resources & Waste Strategy that we were not convinced that collections of flexibles were practical or environmentally beneficial given the lack of processing infrastructure in the UK to ensure they were genuinely recycled."

"This project will provide the best information for our members on the challenges and solutions to collecting flexibles at the kerbside, so we wholeheartedly support it and urge our member councils to consider being part of it."

About The Flexible Plastic Fund

The Flexible Plastic Fund is a collaborative fund giving value to flexible plastic films so they are properly recycled. Managed by market-leading producer responsibility compliance scheme Ecosurety and supported by environmental charity Hubbub, the Fund was established in May 2021 by five founding partners: Mars UK, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever.

Partners of the Fund now also include Abel & Cole, Ella’s Kitchen, The Collective, Kiddylicious, Koninklijke Douwe Egberts, KP Snacks, McCain Foods, Tilda, United Biscuits, Vitaflo, Yeo Valley Farms, Lotus Bakeries, Natural Balance Foods, Ocado Retail and Warp Snacks. In collaboration with manufacturers, retailers and recyclers, the Fund intends to improve flexible plastic recycling and reduce plastic pollution by giving the material a stable value. This will in turn increase the supply of recycled plastic for the industry to become more ‘circular’.

This will motivate investment in much needed jobs and infrastructure to make flexible plastic recycling a financially sustainable system in the UK. Through supporting the Flexible Plastic Fund, partners will contribute to system-wide progress driving towards household collection of this valuable material and ultimately closing the loop on flexible plastic production.

Find out more: www.flexibleplasticfund.org.uk