Press release -
Cheltenham and South Gloucestershire join the UK’s biggest flexible plastic household collection and recycling pilot
Cheltenham and South Gloucestershirejoin the UK’s biggest flexible plastichousehold collection and recycling pilot.
- Mondelēz International is contributing to the £3m FlexiblePlastic Fund FlexCollect project, the largest pilot for householdcollections and recycling of flexible plastic packaging everundertaken in the UK
- Pilot will inform how to incorporate flexibles into existingcollection services across different geographies anddemographics, developing best practice
- This industry led project, initiated, and led by the Flexible Plastic Fund (FPF) benefits from cross- industry expertise of leadingindustry and government partners, including DEFRA, UKResearch and Innovation (UKRI), SUEZ, RECOUP, LARAC & WRAP
- FlexCollect pilot is another example of how MondelēzInternational is investing in the UK’s recycling infrastructure aspart of its ‘Pack Light and Right’ sustainable packaging strategy
UK – October 13th, 2022
Cheltenham and South Gloucestershire are the first local authorities to agreeto trial kerbside collections of flexible plastic packaging under the FlexiblePlastic Fund (FPF) FlexCollect project.
Cheltenham Borough Council already launched trial collections on 7 October2022 while the South Gloucestershire pilot collections will begin on 17October 2022 with approximately 2,000 selected households from parts ofBradley Stoke, Chipping Sodbury, Alveston and Olveston, providing them withgreater accessibility for the collection and recycling of their flexible plastics.
Launched last May, FPF FlexCollect is the most extensive pilot for householdcollection and recycling of flexible packaging to be undertaken in the UK. Upto nine councils are to participate voluntarily in the three-year project.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cheltenham and South Gloucestershire as ourfirst pilot local authorities. This is a truly collaborative endeavour by a widepartnership of organisations with a critical interest in the outcomes, andwe’re looking forward to working closely with everyone over the next threeyears to build an understanding of how the UK is going to, not only collectbut also recycle flexible plastic packaging once EPR is introduced” saidGareth Morton, Ecosurety’s lead for the project.
A pioneer phase to kick off
The project will run in two phases. South Gloucestershire Council andCheltenham Borough Council are now part of the pioneer phase whichinvolves a series of innovative flexible plastics household collection andrecycling pilots across four local authorities. The second phase will see fivemore local authorities joining the project in 2023 to build on the gainedknowledge.
Collaborative effort
The FPF FlexCollect project is co-funded by the Flexible Plastic Fund, Defra,UKRI’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge (SSPP), RECOUP andZero Waste Scotland. The pilot is delivered by SUEZ Recycling and RecoveryUK, Ecosurety, WRAP and RECOUP.
Trudy Harrison, Resources and Waste Minister, said: “We know consumerswant to do the right thing and these two local authorities are leading the wayin ensuring more plastic film and flexible packaging is recycled. “Thisinnovative project will provide valuable evidence to support our proposals toroll out nationwide collections of plastic film from all households andbusinesses.
“This builds on our plans for major waste reforms which will boost recyclingrates and create jobs in the waste management sector – driving realsustainable growth for the economy.”
Thomas Merry, Technical Development Manager for SUEZ recycling andrecovery UK, the project managers for FPF FlexCollect, said: “A great deal ofwork by all partners has gone into getting these first collections off theground in Cheltenham and South Gloucestershire and we’re delighted to seelocal residents embracing the opportunity to recycle more of their plasticpackaging.
“Whilst Government finalises the detail of its waste reforms, the pilot isgathering valuable insights that will ease the way for the widespread roll outof collections of flexible plastic packaging, which will not only help toincrease our recycling rate but also help to decarbonise our residual waste.”
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About Mondelēz International
Mondelēz International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ) empowers people to snackright in over 150 countries around the world. With 2018 net revenues ofapproximately $26 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconicglobal and local brands such as Oreo, belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury DairyMilk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; Sour Patch Kids candy and Trident gum.Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500,Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
Visitwww.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ
