UK recyclers have succeeded in tabling amendments to Reach, the EU's proposed chemicals regulations, which aim to reduce the cost for plastics recyclers of complying with the scheme. As it stands, complying with the Reach legislation could involve testing every batch of recycled plastic produced. At an estimated cost of E5,000 a tonne, this will wipe out most of the plastics recycling industry in Europe. The amendments are due to be heard in the European Parliament in the next few weeks. They are being proposed by Dorette Corbey and supported by several key MEPs, including the rapporteur Guido Sacconi, according to Mark Burstall, chairman of the British Plastics Federation Recycling Council. "It's very important for the recycling industry that the issue is resolved," Burstall said. Producing a product safety data sheet for recycled plastic in compliance with the Reach regulations as they stand would be very difficult and costly for recyclers, he said, as there is no data sheet provided with the raw material they use. Without this, recyclers would need to test to establish the types and amounts of the substances present. "The amendment we are trying to get recognises that a data sheet for recycled material could be based on general information," Burstall said.
