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Huge Re-Use Potential In Bulky Waste WRAP Report Finds
17 August 2012
More than half of all bulky waste items taken to household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs) could be re-used, according to a new report published by WRAP
The new report also reveals that 40 percent of bulky items collected at the kerbside, such as sofas and TVs, could be re-used.
Composition and re-usability of bulky waste in the UK is the first UK-wide piece of research to look at the composition of bulky waste in the UK, in order to assess potential for re-use. It follows a report WRAP published last year on the environmental and economic benefits of re-use.
Mervyn Jones, head of products and materials at WRAP, said: "There is a perception that many bulky items taken to household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs) or collected at kerbside are not re-usable. However, this research shows that there is significant re-use potential to be realised from these items.
"This research will help local authorities and HWRC operators to remove these items from the waste stream, either for re-sale or for passing on to the third sector."
The research was undertaken by:
- Analysing call centre logs for bulky waste kerbside collections
- Compositional analysis of bulky waste collected at kerbside
- Surveying individuals depositing bulky waste items at HWRCs
Of all bulky waste in the UK, 42 percent consists of furniture, 19 percent textiles and 19 percent waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) - all materials, which WRAP is exploring re-use potential for. The research found that the most common bulky items taken to HWRCs are televisions, wardrobes and carpets, while the most common for kerbside collection are sofas, mattresses and beds. WasteDataFlow (the online database for UK municipal waste reporting) figures show that around 1.6m tonnes of bulky waste was collected at kerbside or taken to HWRCs in 2010/11.
CLICK HERE for the full report
Darrel Moore
