In-depth look at specifying RTP for the waste sector

The UK waste management and recycling sector has undergone drastic change since the Landfill Tax was first introduced over 14 years ago. From a focus on how to cope with the increasing volumes of waste to be collected and processed, there has been a shift in emphasis towards one of recycling, smart treatment and recovery of materials for use in many industries.

Increasing legislation and regulations demanding the waste management industry to reduce its environmental impact has led to increasing focus on the way that products destined to be recycled are handled and transported. 

Returnable Transit Packaging (RTP) is already being successfully used in many different industries to reduce the cost and environmental impact of packaging and transporting goods, as well as improving efficiency throughout the supply chain.  These durable plastic containers can be used over and over again for hygienic, safe and cost effective transit of products, reducing environmental impact through less vehicle trips and cutting the amount of wasteful one trip packaging. 

RTP can be used very effectively to transport products that need to be recycled. However, there are some key factors to take into consideration when specifying RTP for use in this sector, as standard containers may not always be fit for purpose due to the nature of the materials being transported and the strict regulations about transporting hazardous goods.

It is important that any company using RTP for the first time gets advice from an expert who can ensure the containers used meet the necessary regulations, are suitable for the material being carried and make the most efficient use of vehicle space in order to reduce the number of trips and maximise cost savings. 

This technical paper outlines not only the benefits to the waste management and recycling sector of using RTP but also the main regulations and issues to consider when specifying RTP for different waste products, including electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, vehicles, hazardous waste and animal by-products. Each section also gives recommendations on which types of containers should be used to carry different types of materials.

The benefits of Returnable Transit Packaging (RTP)

With thousands of tonnes of transit packaging being disposed of every year in the UK, companies across many different sectors are switching to returnable multi-trip plastic RTP as they seek to reduce the cost and environmental impact of packaging and transporting goods.

Manufactured from durable plastic, RTP containers are specifically designed for multiple trips over an extended life. They offer a rapid return on investment and a lower cost per trip than single trip packaging products. In fact, figures show that our plastic RTP is more carbon efficient than single trip cardboard after just 20 trips, will pay for itself after just twelve trips and has a reusable life of at least 92 trips. 

Using RTP can also help to reduce a company’s carbon footprint, for example the Product Carbon Footprint of our RTP is 68% less than cardboard – just 26 kgCO2e for each of our Maxinest units. It also enables companies to adhere to the legislative requirements of the Packaging Waste Directive which advocates that packaging should be minimised and designed for recovery and re-use.

EC Packaging and Waste Directive

Businesses with an annual turnover of more than £2 million and that handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging a year are required to meet the producer obligations under the EC Packaging and Waste Directive. This places a legal responsibility on businesses which make or use packaging to ensure a proportion of the packaging they place on the market is recovered and recycled. The packaging supply chain is divided into four activities with a percentage of responsibility allocated to each:

• 6% raw material manufacturer – e.g. manufacturer of steel for food cans.

• 9% converter (manufacturer of packaging item) – e.g. manufacturer of food cans from above steel.

• 37% packer / filler – e.g. company that fills the cans with food (food processor).

• 48% seller – e.g. supermarket.

As transit packaging is included in the above legislation, there is a growing economic and environmental argument for the use of RTP as it significantly reduces the amount of waste transit packaging that is generated in this country from single trip containers.

RTP – reducing cost and supporting growth in the waste management market

They key driver for future growth in the European waste management market is the opportunity arising from legislation to transform what has been a landfill-centred industry to one centred on reducing waste, re-using and recycling, material recovery and energy generation. Recycling and Energy from Waste are expected to be the strongest drivers of new investment.

As landfill tax continues to rise – already reaching £72 per tonne – and with possible restrictions later this decade on the types of material which can be sent to landfill, the financial savings from both reducing waste and the business opportunities in collecting and recovering this material will each grow significantly in the coming decade.

This means that there is renewed focus on how these products are transported – both to recycling plants at end of life and then on to customers as recyclates. As legislation and targets result in increasing quantities of materials collected for recycling, we expect the use of RTP in this sector to grow between 200 and 300% in the next ten years as waste management companies move away from single trip packaging. 

There is also a corporate social responsibility driver because it makes good sense for companies involved in recycling to use environmentally friendly reusable containers themselves, rather than using wasteful single trip packaging.

Packaging is particularly important in the waste management industry so there are many factors to consider when specifying RTP, particularly due to the nature of the materials being transported and the need to provide both protection and security to the goods carried. There is also the consideration that you are often carrying items that can be difficult and dangerous to transport and not only do the containers need to meet the necessary regulations but they also need to be able to withstand any potential damage from the materials they are carrying, so that the business gets the full lifetime use and cost savings from the investment. 

Schoeller Allibert manufactures a wide range of durable RTP containers that are ideal for handling and distribution of both hazardous and non-hazardous solid and liquid wastes destined for treatment, recycling or disposal. 

Transporting Hazardous Substances

The type of hazardous material a waste management company is carrying will affect which type of RTP container is suitable and safe to use. There are a number of regulations affecting this area that will affect the specification of RTP:

The UN Packing Group has a categorisation for dangerous goods which defines the degree of hazard associated with their transportation. This is ranked as follows:

• Group I: Very dangerous goods

• Group II: Goods presenting a medium degree of danger

• Group III: Goods presenting a minor degree of danger.

If carrying products within one of these groups, then companies should look for RTP containers that have been approved by the UN. 

In the UK, the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 provide controls for wastes harmful to health or the environment or are difficult to handle. They ensure that such wastes are correctly managed from production to final destination for disposal or recovery.

Hazardous wastes include the following: fluorescent light bulbs, computer monitors, medicines and tablets, cooking and engine oil, paint, asbestos, aerosols, batteries, gas cylinders etc.

The Dangerous Goods legislation governs the movement of materials classified as dangerous. It outlines the methods and controls and classifies the packaging and testing. This covers the various types of boxes, including plastic that are used in transit packaging. 

It states that boxes must be manufactured from suitable plastics and be adequately resistant to ageing and degradation caused either by the substance or exposure to ultra-violet radiation. For solid plastic boxes, protection against UV radiation should be provided by the addition of carbon black or other suitable pigments or inhibitors. 

It also states that solid plastic boxes should have closure devices made of a suitable material of adequate strength and so designed to prevent the box from unintentional opening. There are also strict rules on the size, colour and position of markings on the box.

Specifying RTP for transporting hazardous goods:

Companies must ensure that any products or materials they transport, which include substances listed by the UN as dangerous goods, are carried in an approved container. This includes lead acid batteries, glass packaged hazardous goods, oily rags and overalls, hospital waste and chemicals. 

Advice and full details of the regulations can be found on the following websites:

• HSE (Health &Safety Executive) guidance on the carriage of dangerous goods – www.hse.gov.uk/cdg

• UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) ADR (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road): www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/adr/adr2011/11contentse

Schoeller Allibert manufactures a wide range of UN certified containers for collecting, handling and distribution of hazardous wastes. In particular our solid rigid bulk boxes are ideal for many hazardous applications retaining liquids and solids, such as mercury from fluorescent light tubes and preventing them from entering the water course.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

The key piece of legislation affecting this sector is the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive which, together with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive, became European Law in February 2003.

This Directive imposes the responsibility for the disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment on the manufacturers and distributors. It requires that these companies establish an infrastructure for collecting WEEE, in such a way that users of electrical and electronic equipment from private households should have the possibility of returning WEEE free of charge.

Many manufacturers and distributors pay an annual fee for the collection and recycling of associated waste electronic from household waste recycling centres. RTP can be used to collect the equipment from the household recycling centres or businesses by the WEEE compliance scheme operator and taken to the recycling plant for component recovery and separation into raw materials.

Specifying RTP for WEEE

Both Folding Lid Containers (FLCs)and Attached Lid Containers (ALCs) are ideal for collection of items destined for WEEE recycling. FLCs and rigid bulk boxed could be used for the distribution of the recyclate (plastics, metals etc) to the customer.

Waste batteries

The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 establish a legal framework and scheme for collecting, treating and recycling portable, industrial and vehicle batteries. Battery recycling is a relatively new field for the UK. While we recycle more than 90% of our lead acid batteries – principally those used in industrial applications and in vehicles – just 10% of the portable batteries put onto the market in 20010 are believed to have been recycled.

However, we are likely to see a significant increase in the number of batteries being recycled as the EU Directive set a recycling target of 25% of all batteries sold by 2012 and 45% by 2016. This also states that all industrial and automotive batteries are to be collected for recycling. This means there is a growing need for RTP containers that are suitable for carrying batteries, which are designated as a hazardous substance and need to be handled carefully.

Specifying RTP for WEEE

Waste batteries are a hazardous substance and must be transported in a UN approved container. Tamper evident security is also an important specification consideration. Schoeller Allibert offers UN approved Solid Geoboxes, which come with lid and straps and are specifically designed to transport waste batteries (usually scrap lead acid batteries). Attached lid containers with tamper evident security are also a good container for transporting waste alkaline batteries.

End of Life Vehicles (ELV)

The EU Directive End of Life Vehicles (ELV) 2000/53/EC requires end of life vehicles and their components to be recycled or reused. As well as setting out design requirements, the Directive outlines measures for collection systems and treating and storing waste vehicles at authorised treatment facilities.

Vehicles have to be recycled via an authorized treatment facility (ATF) where, in addition to dismantling the ELV, the plant must also remove hazardous residues before the car passes further down the recycling chain. This includes tyres and all fluids such as engine oil, fuel and anti-freeze.

Once the ELV has been processed, it may then be crushed on site at the ATF and afterwards taken to a shredder facility. Once at the shredder, the ferrous metal and heavy fraction – aluminium, copper and brass – are removed before being left with the light element – the plastics, fibre, internal carpets etc. In the past this would have gone to landfill but there is increasing emphasis on recovering this light element in order to improve recycling rates.

The international trade in recycled products from a vehicle is huge with ferrous metals going as far afield as China and a thriving scrap metals market in continental Europe. Therefore optimising vehicle fill and reducing the amount of vehicle trips is very important in this sector to reduce cost and environmental impact. RTP can be used at different stages throughout the recycling process to deal with metal, plastic, fluids, batteries and tyres.

Specifying RTP for ELV

There are many different constituent parts with an ELV, some more hazardous than others. Different types of RTP will need to be used for different elements of transporting ELVs for recycling.

Waste batteries are classified as a dangerous product so must be transported in UN approved containers. For example, Schoeller Allibert has a UN approved Solid Geobox with lid and straps.

Waste fluids from ELVs are classified as hazardous liquids so again, companies need to choose a container that is UN approved for transporting them by road (ADR), by sea (OMI/IMDG) or by rail (RID). Schoeller Allibert Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) are UN approved for transporting most hazardous liquids by road, sea and rail. Helix tanks can also be used for temporary storage of liquid wastes.

Folding Lid Containers and rigid bulk boxes could be used for the distribution of the recyclate (plastics, metals etc) to the customer and could help to save costs and environmental impact through reduced vehicle trips on international journeys.

Animal by-products

The management of animal by-product waste is governed by the EU Animal By Product Regulations (ABPR), EU Control Regulation 1069/2009 and EU Implementation Regulation 142/2011. Animal by-products must be dealt with in accordance with strict regulations designed to prevent harm to people, animals and the environment.

Not all animal products are classified as waste, with hides destined for the leather industry and wool for textiles. Blood used for further processing in the food or pharmaceutical industries is not classified as an ABP but the appropriate hygiene standards and regulations apply.

Specifying RTP for ABP

Animal by-products must be collected and carried in leakproof, covered containers or vehicles, or sealed new packaging and kept separately from other categories of by-product. Rigid bulk boxes fitted with lids would provide an ideal solution. Companies should also ask their RTP provider about washing and swab testing facilities to ensure compliance with hygiene standards.

Summary

Many legislative, environmental and financial factors are driving the increasing use of RTP in the waste management and recycling sectors. Targets to increase the amount of materials sent for recycling are likely to see the use of RTP in this sector increase by 200 to 300% in the next decade. Benefits include lower carbon footprint, reduced cost and packaging waste and improved transportation efficiency.

However, as this is such a diverse sector, governed by numerous regulations on the transportation of dangerous goods, one size certainly doesn’t fit all when it comes to specifying RTP for the collection and handling of products for recycling. Companies should seek the advice of RTP experts who can ensure the containers used meet the necessary regulations, are suitable for the material being carried and make the most efficient use of vehicle space in order to reduce the number of trips and maximise cost savings.