Plastics (non-packaging)

Waste plastics can be processed into raw materials which can be put to a variety of uses. Non-packaging plastic waste includes items like drainpipes, guttering, plastic window frames, garden furniture and children’s discarded toys.

Through the Waste Protocols Project we have gathered evidence on standards the plastics meet, markets they may be able to exploit, and most importantly any potential impacts on human health and the environment. The aim was to establish whether non-packaging plastics can be considered to be fully recovered and used as quality new resources. We believe it could help divert many thousands of tonnes of plastics away from landfill each year.

What are the benefits?

In addition to diverting waste away from landfill, industry-wide compliance with the quality protocol could save many thousands of tonnes of virgin raw materials.

Until now, non-packaging plastics could only cease to be waste after they had been through an energy-intensive high temperature melt process to turn chips into pellets. This process resulted in unnecessary energy usage, business costs and CO₂ emissions. We calculate that, in the ten years from 2008 and 2020 alone, it could also avoid over 53,000 tonnes tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions.

Our calculations also demonstrate that, over the same period, it could save businesses almost £27 million in compliance and disposal charges, and stimulate recyclate markets worth over £8.8 million a year.

The current status

The quality protocol for non-packaging plastics has completed its journey through the Waste Protocols Project process and been published as a final protocol.

You can use this link to download the final quality protocol.

• Quality protocol for non-packaging plastics (PDF, 415KB)
  (End-of-waste criteria for the manufacture of secondary raw materials from waste non-packaging plastics)

You can also download:

• Technical report for non-packaging plastics (PDF, 314KB)
• Financial impact assessment non-packaging plastic (PDF, 165KB)

Find out how we regulate non-packaging plastics.

• Regulatory position statement

Get involved

If you produce or recycle waste non-packaging plastics, it is likely to be in your interests to comply with the relevant quality protocol. See above for links to the documentation.

Find out which recyclers can use your waste. A good place to start is the Waste Directory.

If you are an end user of raw materials produced from this material you can be assured of the quality when the producer is compliant with the protocol.

More information

Our project partner, WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) has more information about plastics on their website.

If you would like further help, please email wasteprotocols@environment-agency.gov.uk