Paper Recycling Crisis ?

[Lancashire Lad]

According to recently published articles, paper recycling in Britain is currently in crisis.

Councils are said to be currently storing about 100,000 tonnes of waste paper ready for recycling, and this could double by March, the mountain of paper is increasing by more than 8000 tons per week.

None of Britains 80 paper mills are accepting any new stock, and the situation is not likely to change before 2010.

Price for waste paper has dropped within the last six weeks from about £70.00 per ton, to just £10.00 per ton (apparently due to the market for waste paper drying up in China).

Some of the operators used by councils, are now charging an extra £20.00 per ton to store the paper - twice the amount that the councils can now expect to get paid for it, with talk of possible increased council tax charges to offset the cost! (There are government imposed fines of £32.00 per ton if councils send anything to landfill that could otherwise be recycled).

Cost to the taxpayer so far about £2 million, set to double within three months.

Something of a catch 22 situation with no immediately foreseeable answer.

Regards
Mike.

[Jim Ford]

In Apsley, near Hemel Hempsted there's an old paper mill that recycles waste paper from surrounding organisations (schools etc.) into high quality paper. They have open days and the place is well worth a visit.

"Frogmore Mill has been making paper for over 200 years – ever since it became the world’s first commercial mechanised paper mill in 1803 – and today still produces speciality papers for commercial customers and the public. "

The Papertrail - Welcome to The Paper Trail

Jim

[kayy]

hi is it possible for u to tell me the sources of your information, thnks would much appreciate it!

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

According to recently published articles, paper recycling in Britain is currently in crisis.

Councils are said to be currently storing about 100,000 tonnes of waste paper ready for recycling, and this could double by March, the mountain of paper is increasing by more than 8000 tons per week.

None of Britains 80 paper mills are accepting any new stock, and the situation is not likely to change before 2010.

Price for waste paper has dropped within the last six weeks from about £70.00 per ton, to just £10.00 per ton (apparently due to the market for waste paper drying up in China).

Some of the operators used by councils, are now charging an extra £20.00 per ton to store the paper - twice the amount that the councils can now expect to get paid for it, with talk of possible increased council tax charges to offset the cost! (There are government imposed fines of £32.00 per ton if councils send anything to landfill that could otherwise be recycled).

Cost to the taxpayer so far about £2 million, set to double within three months.

Something of a catch 22 situation with no immediately foreseeable answer.

Regards
Mike.

Not to mention that the low price and readily available recycled paper has depressed the market for pulp wood to the point that many places would make a loss if they cleared their sitka spruce etc plantations (ie the cost of clearance is higher than the pulp price) which threatens a lot of re broadleaving and/or heathland restoration projects