FMCG giants-backed recycling scheme faces hindrance at local authorities

A recycling scheme by FMCG giants including Nestlé, Unilever, Mars, Mondelez and PepsiCo is facing a roadblock due to lack of funds at local authorities, stated a recent report, days after its trial was launched in Essex this week.

According to reports, Flexible Plastic Fund which first took to trial in May 2022, has now seen a third of the councils set to take part pulling out as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.

The £2.9 million Flexible Plastic Fund FlexCollect project is claimed to be the most extensive pilot for household collection and recycling of flexible plastic packaging ever undertaken in the UK.

The pilot was launched to understand how to incorporate flexibles into existing collection services across different geographies and demographics and develop best practice ahead of the introduction of consistent collections across the UK in 2027.

This industry-led project, initiated and led by the Flexible Plastic Fund (FPF), and including some of the UK’s leading manufacturers, benefits from cross-industry expertise of leading industry and government partners, including Defra, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), SUEZ, RECOUP, LARAC and WRAP.

The pilot is co-funded by the Flexible Plastic Fund, Defra, UKRI’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge (SSPP) and Zero Waste Scotland, with participating local authorities financially supported to roll out and operate pilot kerbside collections over the three-year project.

Cheltenham Borough Council was the first local authority to join this project at pioneer stage, followed by South Gloucestershire and Maldon District Council.

Earlier this week, a trial was launched in Maldon aimed to cover over 6,500 homes.

Councillor Penny Channer, Leader of Maldon District Council, said, “I am extremely pleased that our District has been chosen to be part of this trial, and the only authority in Essex to be chosen so far.

“This trial is another step towards making the District more environmentally sustainable and reducing our carbon footprint through the reduction of plastics going to landfill.

“While this is only a trial at the moment, I look forward to seeing this scheme rolled out to all residents by the end of 2024.”

The Fund’s partners include a raft of brands in the UK food industry such as Abel & Cole, Ella’s Kitchen, KP Snacks, McCain Foods, Tilda, United Biscuits, Yeo Valley Farms, Lotus Bakeries, Ocado Retail and Warp Snacks.