Applying the waste hierarchy to wood

Tim Hutchinson – Director - Returnable Packaging Services

Wood and pallet factoids !

The UK is one of the least wooded places in Europe !

Wood and pallet factoids !

In one year an acre of wood can absorb as much carbon as is produced by a car driven for 8000 miles !

Wood and pallet factoids !

In the UK there are more pallets than people !

Wood and pallet factoids !

The term ‘touch wood ‘ or ‘knock on wood’ originates from an a primitive form of tree worship!

The Waste Framework Directive

The Waste Framework Directive provides the overarching legislative framework for the collection, transport, recovery and disposal of waste across Europe, including the UK, and was originally passed into law in 2006. 

The Waste Framework Directive

With the waste hierarchy as its guiding light, the revised Waste Framework Directive sets out a range of provisions and tough targets in relation to recycling and reuse for both household and construction and demolition (C&D) waste.

The targets in the Directive are:

• to recycle or prepare for reuse 50% of household waste by 2020

• to reuse, recycle or recover 70% of non-hazardous C&D waste by 2020

Alongside this, the Directive details a requirement to set up separate collection of "at least the following: paper, metal, plastic and glass", from the household waste stream by 2015.

Paper Metal Plastic Glass

The 4 R`s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery

Reduce

Reduce - Save money on packaging spend- Less packaging = less producer responsibilty ‘tax’- Less packaging weight to transport- Reduced carbon

The 4 R`s – Reduce, Reuse ,Recycle, Recovery

Reduce

Re-use

Re-use - Saves money on new packaging - No package producer responsibility ‘tax’ on re-

used packaging - Reduced carbon

The 4 R`s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery

Reduce

Re-use

RecycleRecycle - Value of the recyclate (currently very high)

- Packaging Recovery Note (PRN’s) can be issued - Reduced carbon... but not as much as

Reduce/Reuse !

The 4 R`s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery

Reduce

Re-use

Recycle

Recovery (Energy,compost)

Recovery - Packaging Recovery Notes (PRN’s) values are currently very low

- Energy from Waste (EFW) value increasing - Carbon Reduction ... but not as much as the

others

The 4 R`s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery

Reduce

Re-use

Recycle

Recovery (Energy,compost)

Landfill

Landfill - Costs £56/t landfill tax + gate fee of £40/t - £100/t and rising year on year - Produces Carbon

The 4 R`s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery

Reduce

Re-use

Recycle

Recovery (Energy,compost)

Landfill

Worse for theenvironment &sustainability

Better for theenvironment &sustainability

Significant costs

Wood – Waste Hierarchy Example

Reduce

• Less boards, bearers, block on pallets, crates and boxes.• Reduce thickness of boards.

However – This can conflict with Re-use.No good specifying a flimsy pallet if you expect to re-use it many times.

Wood – Waste Hierarchy Example

Reduce

Re-Use

• Good quality heavy duty pallet such as GKN Blue• High inital cost £10 - £12.• More trips – 10 trips = £1 per trip.

Re-using the same pallet,thus reducing, packaging waste,Raw materials and cost.

Manufacturing company using pallets to transport goods.

Wood – Waste Hierarchy Example

Reduce

Re-useRecycl

e

• Mainly single trip, cheap and disposable.• At best cost neutral to dispose of.• Reprocessed in board, MDF, worktops.• Ex pallets (packaging) will generate a wood

PRN.• Relatively low value as recyclate.

Crate PackagingRecycled wood products

Wood – Waste Hierarchy Example

Reduce

Re-use

Recycle

Recovery (EFW)

• Incinerated for energy recovery.• Wood Packaging Recovery Notes (PRN’s) issued.

Wooden packaging Incinerated at EFW power stationfor energy.

Generates heat and power .

RPS – Returnable Packaging Services Ltd

Reuse = RPS

What we do

RPS reduces YOUR COSTS through the collection and return of your own palletsfrom your customers. Our pro-active recovery process includes full pallet inspection, repair (where required) and return to your site for you to Reuse.

RPS – Returnable Packaging Services Ltd

How we help you comply with the waste hierarchy

• Pro-active national and international recovery of your packaging assets

• Up to 50% savings on new pallet spend

• Reduced packaging waste compliance tax

• Environmentally a sustainable solution through re-use

• No cost entry and requires minimal management resource

• No financial risk to participating businesses

• Complies with corporate and social responsibility philosophy

• Effective pallet strategy to out perform the competition

Why just pallets?

Expanding the model to include….

IPS – Industrial Packaging Solutions

Packaging Types

Plastic Drums

FIBC`s

Pallets

Steel Drums

IBC`s

IPS – Industrial Packaging Solutions

WHO ARE IPS – Industrial Packaging Solutions?

The UK’s only

“collective recovery specialists”

for industrial packaging, collaborating to provide

“ONE SOLUTION”

Rising new packaging costs

Post recession, major cost increases of all new packaging

Steel Raw Material Increases

Every £100/tonne increase equal to £1.75/drum

Polymer Raw Material Increases

Every £100/tonne increase equal to £0.85/drum

Wood Raw Material Increases

Every £10/m3 increase equal to £0.40/pallet

Rising new packaging costs

Solution – keep hold of your packaging asset and use IPS to help

you ‘Reuse’ it

RECOVERY PROCESS – HOW’S IT DONE

Your Customer

ips actively manage the collection process

& transport to Service Centre

PackerFiller

Materials/goods dispatched to Customer usingIBC’s, Steel Drums and Pallets

Service centre

Recovered and recycled units returned to you

Proactively managed byips control centre

RE-USESAVES MONEY &BENEFITS ENVIRONMENT

IPS – Industrial Packaging Solutions – WHAT WE DO

We work together to provide clients with:

• An unrivalled national packaging recovery service

• Competitive payments for reusable & recyclable packaging

• Bespoke closed loop options

• Launder and refurbishment processes for most industrial pack types

• Supply of new and/or second life packaging

• Complimentary support for sustainability projects

• An effective recovery strategy to help out-perform your competition

IPS – Industrial Packaging Solutions

LIVINGSTON

AVONMOUTH

RIPON

HULL

BIRMINGHAM

GATESHEAD

LEEDSCOOTEHILL

BELFAST

LONDON

NATIONAL RECOVERY NETWORK

Unrivalled packaging recovery network which covers the whole of the UK and Ireland

Transport specialists to plan collection tasks which lessen our carbon emissions and lower our costs

Manage our waste and environmental responsibilities in full compliance with national legislative requirements

IPS – Industrial Packaging Solutions

IPS PARTNER CLIENTSWe work with the industry’s leading companies, meeting the highest of quality standards.