Film Collection and Recycling

The EU implemented the Packaging Directive in 1994, and it set targets for recovery and recycling. This applied to all Member States and was implemented as Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations (Northern Ireland 1999 in Northern Ireland.

Farm films are technically packaging, but to date havE been covered by this legislation. In GB and the RoI, there are Farm Film prod groups and reference will be made to how these are operated.

The idea is to collect, bale and recycle farm and construction waste plastic film. This is not being done at the moment, and this is the opportunity that has been identified, along with being a statutory requirement. The model that is being used is based on the RoI Farm Film Producers Group (IFFPG) one, but extended considerably.

The film producers and suppliers i.e. the like of BPI and the farm co-ops pay a le cover the cost of collection and recycling. This means that the film user does not to pay for disposal (as it is a producer responsibility directive).

The film, once it becomes waste, is then collected, cleaned and baled. This is sent to a recycler, or recycled on site, and the recyclate is then sold on manufacturer.

The purchase or lease of either a static baler or mobile baler is required, as storage and cleaning area. A static baler is likely to be about one tenth of the cost mobile baler!

Collectors can either be employed directly or freelance drivers pal the tonne. Background Local staff are employed and given some training and can start to work in an atmosphere which can be seen as a transition between long term unemployed and a more normal working environment.

Typically facilities such as these have a high staff turnover as people come and go, as the skills requirement is not high.

The project is envisaged as an all NI project, but it will start in the NDBC area. The proposal is scalable, because it takes the basic collection, sorting, washing and baling model and runs it as a pilot scheme for seeing how to extend the model into other materials. This in turn could be an enterprise that employs in excess of 30 people.

Why it meets the social enterprise requirements

The staff will be employed and trained in the sorting, cleaning and baling of plastic film waste. Part of this training will be to instill a work ethic, and therefore prepare them for employment which places more demands on them. This should mean a more successful transition into the ‘normal’ workforce.

The proposal also meets EU Measure objectives by creating employment, improving the environment and reducing the waste that is sent to landfill or burned.