Is Recycling a Lost Cause

It is a challenging task to narrate the story of plastic's fate in a coherent manner. Despite the extensive media coverage and news reports, the discourse on plastic waste appears to have been resolved and won. However, upon closer examination of the statistics, it is evident that the production of plastic has significantly increased and is projected to rise further in the next decade. The mounting production of plastic necessitates an understanding of its ultimate destination after consumption. It is imperative to comprehend the fate of plastic waste to address the issue effectively.

Tesco is a prominent and expansive supermarket chain, holding the title of the largest in the United Kingdom by a significant margin. The company generates a substantial amount of profit annually. In an effort to accurately monitor waste streams on a global scale, Bloomberg Journalist sought to develop an electronic means of tracking such activity. To achieve this, they implemented trackers within select plastic bags and deposited them into recycling bins located within Tesco supermarkets throughout London. It was initially assumed that all waste collected by Tesco would be directed towards a singular outcome, either burial or recycling. However, upon further investigation, a significantly more intricate and convoluted scenario was revealed. The situation at hand is exceedingly complex and disorderly.

According to Kit, an investigative reporter at Bloomberg, a significant number of individuals are unaware of the fate of their waste once it is disposed of in a bin or trash can, particularly in the case of plastic. The waste is typically collected by a van or taken to a recycling center, after which it enters a concealed ecosystem that is subject to minimal oversight. The waste is transported to unsanitary and malodorous locations for sorting and processing by third parties, after which it is forgotten. However, Kit has discovered the precise fate of the waste, as well as the locations it is taken to and its ultimate destination.

Tesco places significant emphasis on reuse as one of its initiatives to combat plastic pollution. Specifically, the company aims to facilitate the recycling of plastic products sold to consumers, with the ultimate goal of transforming them into equivalent items. This entails the reuse of bottles and packaging sold by the company.

Kit had three digital trackers discreetly placed in wrappers or bags and deposited into Tesco boxes, which were designated for recycling. Subsequently, Kit awaited the trackers' movements for a few days. Within three to four days, the trackers began to move, and Kit could observe their transportation via truck. One of the trackers was transported to East London and seemingly vanished into the banks of the Thames. It is uncertain whether it was lost or dislodged. The remaining two trackers followed a clear trajectory, leading to Tesco logistics centers on the outskirts of London, and ultimately to Harwich International port. After a brief period of inactivity, Kit observed the trackers in the Netherlands, heading eastward.

There exist certain types of plastic that are comparatively facile to recycle and can be lucratively traded on the open market. For instance, transparent plastic bottles are composed of a substance known as PET, which is an excellent material for recycling. It can be repeatedly reused without any loss in quality. Similarly, transparent plastic wrap, provided it is devoid of any labels, colorants, or heat retardants, is also a good candidate for recycling. It can be melted down and reprocessed. However, as is evident to anyone who frequents supermarkets to purchase food, the majority of plastic products sold are not just clear wrap. They are typically labeled and come into contact with food.

The aforementioned implies that the materials in question are not homogeneous, but rather consist of varying grades of plastic. It is not feasible to amalgamate all of the materials into a single bulk load and subsequently melt and recycle them, as the resulting plastic would be of substandard quality and unusable. Therefore, it is imperative to segregate the materials. To date, the sole method of accomplishing this task is through manual labor, wherein individuals must manually sort through the materials, utilizing tactile senses to differentiate between grades of plastic. Occasionally, they may even resort to burning the material with a lighter to ascertain its grade and separate it into distinct streams.

They did not remain in the Netherlands for an extended period of time. They swiftly traversed through the country and proceeded to travel on a German motorway, covering the distance within a span of 12 to 24 hours. Eventually, they crossed the border into Poland, where I observed that both digital trackers, albeit on separate days, ultimately converged at the exact same location. This location was identified as the Eurokey site in Zielona Gora, a small town situated in western Poland, in close proximity to the German border.

Kit was aware that it was imperative for him to inspect the destination of Tesco's waste. Consequently, he embarked on a flight to Poland and collaborated with his colleague, Wojciech. Together, they journeyed to Zielona Gora and conducted a drive-by to observe the facility. During their visit, Kit was able to discern numerous stacks of plastic waste.

Kit and Wojciech discovered a lengthy industrial edifice, functioning as a warehouse, in Zielona Gora. Its dimensions were estimated to be equivalent to or greater than that of a football field. The site was replete with an abundance of materials, weighing hundreds of tons, which were left unattended, awaiting transportation to other destinations. The sheer volume of materials was staggering. The rationale behind the influx of plastic waste to this location is attributed to the presence of a British-owned enterprise, Eurokey, which established a vast sorting facility on the outskirts of Zielona Gora. This facility serves as the primary destination for the majority of waste generated by the supermarket system.

There exist two primary reasons for the exportation of a substantial amount of plastic waste. Firstly, the disposal of plastic in developed economies such as the United Kingdom, Germany, or the United States is a costly affair. For instance, if one has to landfill or bury the plastic due to its unusable nature, the cost in the United Kingdom is approximately 100 pounds per ton, whereas the equivalent cost in Poland is significantly lower, ranging from 20 to 30 pounds per ton. Additionally, numerous government incentives have been put in place to encourage recycling as a more attractive option. The government provides credits for exporting materials for recycling, which are equivalent to the financial support given for domestic recycling. Therefore, if faced with the choice of exporting to Poland or recycling the material in the United Kingdom, the government offers equal financial support for both options.

The primary exercise of utmost significance for the purpose of this project was to investigate the fate of the non-recyclable plastic, as certain types of plastic are easily manageable. The global predicament that needs to be addressed is the disposal of non-recyclable plastic, which is not economically feasible to reuse. One of the digital trackers was embedded in a lentil puff wrapper, similar to a snack wrapper, to trace its movement. The tracker revealed that the wrapper was on the move again, approximately 24 hours after being sorted at Zielona Gora, and headed east across Poland to a small town named Poniatowa. It was discovered that the wrapper had been dispatched to a company called Stella Pack.

Stella Pack is an Eastern European manufacturer that specializes in the production of garbage bags. Their product line includes black sacks and similar items. The company possesses a facility that is capable of recycling soft plastic into new soft plastic. Additionally, they have an onsite incinerator that is used to dispose of plastic that cannot be repurposed. This incinerator provides heat and energy for the factory. Plastics are derived from oil, which is a fossil fuel that burns efficiently. They burn in a manner similar to crude oil, making them an excellent source of energy when incinerated.

In Poland, there exists a substantial cement industry that necessitates a significant amount of heat and energy to transform limestone powder into cement through the process of calcification. This process is facilitated by the use of colossal kilns that can reach temperatures of up to 1,500 or 2,000 degrees Celsius. Historically, the industry has relied on Polish coal as the primary energy source to fuel the kilns. However, in recent times, the cement industry has identified a plethora of waste materials that are readily available in Poland at a low cost, which can be utilized as an alternative energy source.

Currently, it is a prevalent practice throughout Poland to incinerate plastic waste and other forms of waste for energy production in the cement industry. This approach is deemed more advantageous than utilizing free fuel, as the cement manufacturers are remunerated for accepting the waste. Waste brokers in Poland offer a nominal fee per ton to cement producers for the disposal of their plastic waste, which is subsequently incinerated in their kilns. This arrangement enables cement manufacturers to generate revenue from their fuel source, making it an exceptional opportunity for those in the cement production business.

The tracking device embedded within the Tesco plastic bag ceased transmitting signals upon its arrival in Zielona Gora after a few days. It is presumed that the device was either shredded, destroyed, trampled upon, or taken. Upon Kit's return from Poland, he was taken aback to discover that the device's location had shifted, indicating that it was situated in southern Turkey, a few hundred kilometers away from the Syrian border, in an industrial estate. It is worth noting that not all plastic waste that is transported to Turkey is destined to be illegally dumped, buried, or incinerated.

In Turkey, there exist commendable recycling enterprises that enjoy a positive standing. However, Turkey's status as a waste destination is plagued by significant challenges. Regrettably, a considerable portion of plastic waste that is directed to Turkey is unlawfully discarded. Our tracking efforts led us to an industrial estate that was somewhat secluded. Despite our best efforts, we could not identify any nearby plastic recycling facilities, leaving us perplexed as to its presence in the area.

Bloomberg dispatched an additional journalist to conduct an on-site investigation of the premises. Upon arrival, the journalist discovered an extensive accumulation of plastic waste from various European sources, which had been carelessly discarded outside a warehouse. It was evident that the facility in question was not a recycling center, but rather a temporary holding area for the waste before it could be relocated elsewhere. The fate of the tracking material that was transported to the industrial estate in Turkey remains unknown, and it is uncertain whether it was even possible to recycle it.

It is a matter of knowledge that waste material from Tesco has been discovered in the aforementioned region for a considerable duration. Merely a few months ago, an activist stumbled upon a Tesco carrier bag that had been recklessly discarded by the side of a field, where it had been left to smolder in a heap of burnt plastic. It is evident that the bag had been unlawfully dumped.

Tesco is a prominent and extensive chain of supermarkets, which holds the distinction of being the largest in the United Kingdom by a significant margin. The company generates a substantial amount of revenue annually, owing to its vast customer base and efficient business operations. Furthermore, Tesco has established an exceptional logistics infrastructure that ensures the timely delivery of fresh bread, milk, and meat to all of its stores across the UK. This network is a testament to the company's commitment to providing high-quality products to its customers. However, if an organization of this magnitude is unable to dispose of plastic waste effectively, it raises concerns about the ability of smaller, financially constrained town councils to manage their plastic waste disposal effectively.

The rationale behind Tesco's plastic exportation lies in its cost-effectiveness as a solution to their predicament. Despite the benevolent rhetoric and well-meaning aspirations, the majority of soft plastic entering the market is destined for either incineration or burial. The investigation uncovered a subterranean realm of contractors, brokers, and exporters that bears little resemblance to a circular economy and more closely resembles a game of shifting responsibility.