{"id":401249,"date":"2025-09-05T23:56:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T23:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/401249\/"},"modified":"2025-09-05T23:56:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T23:56:12","slug":"breaking-point-plastics-recycling-sector-sets-out-six-point-rescue-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/401249\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Breaking point\u2019: Plastics recycling sector sets out six-point rescue plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a joint letter<\/a> to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and senior Commissioners, 28 leading organisations \u2013 spanning recyclers, converters, raw material producers and waste management companies \u2013 describe the sector as being \u201cat a breaking point.\u201d<\/p>\n

The intervention comes after recent warnings of an \u201cimminent collapse\u201d in EU plastics recycling<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to the signatories, the impact goes beyond recycling: \u201cThis is not only a threat to the competitiveness of Europe\u2019s industry, but also to its ability to meet circular economy and climate goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Six recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n

To reverse the decline, the plastics value chain has put forward six recommendations:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Restore fair competition: Promote the uptake of high-quality EU-made circular plastics by introducing mirror measures on imports and incentives for collection and sorting, reforming public procurement and curbing incineration and landfilling<\/li>\n
  2. Cut energy costs: Extend affordable energy schemes, tax relief and state aid to plastics recycling and processing, with revenues from ETS and plastics levies reinvested into circularity<\/li>\n
  3. End loopholes in verification and enforcement: Equip customs authorities, strengthen market surveillance and create harmonised EU rules to tackle non-compliant imports and misleading recycled-content claims<\/li>\n
  4. Tackle fragmentation: Ensure consistent implementation of EU law across Member States, streamline permitting and establish EU-wide End-of-Waste criteria<\/li>\n
  5. Break the deadlock on investment: Provide targeted support for innovative collection, sorting and recycling technologies<\/li>\n
  6. Enhance Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Harmonise EPR rules and eco-modulated fees across Europe to reward recyclability and recycled content<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The signatories warned that without urgent intervention, deindustrialisation could accelerate, taking with it not just jobs and investment, but also Europe\u2019s capacity to deliver on the Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan and future climate targets.<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe EU stands at a crossroads,\u201d the letter concluded. \u201cEither we urgently double down on enforcement, targeted investment and fair competition, or the vision of a circular plastics economy in Europe will not materialise.\u201d<\/p>\n

    UK plastics plants closures continue<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The warning comes as the UK plastics recycling market continues to experience turbulence, including several high-profile plant closures in recent months.<\/p>\n

    Viridor confirmed earlier this summer that it would close its\u00a0Rochester plastics recycling facility<\/a>, following on from the\u00a0shutdown of its Avonmouth site<\/a>\u00a0in December 2024.<\/p>\n

    Biffa also closed its Sunderland plastics recycling plant in July 2025, which had an annual processing capacity of 39,000 tonnes.<\/p>\n

    Most recently, Vanden Recycling announced that it will be\u00a0closing its plastics processing site in Whittlesey<\/a>, Peterborough, in October 2025.<\/p>\n

    Market conditions have added further strain. Trading activity was subdued throughout August, with seasonal softening in demand for PET exacerbated by an oversupply of material.<\/p>\n

    Prices for some grades have dipped, while across Europe recyclers are grappling with low virgin polymer prices, which continue to squeeze margins.<\/p>\n

    View our full market analysis for Plastic Prices in August\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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