Environmental News: Fast food industry falling short on recycling targets
A new report suggests that despite touch European recyling measures most fast food packaging still ends up in landfill sites.
The report, Challenges in packaging waste management in the fast food industry, by Aarnio, T and Hämäläinen (2008), is based on research into McDonald's outlets in Finland. It found that only 29 per cent of packaging waste was being recycled, although theoretically 93 per cent of the packaging could be recycled.
European laws aim to ensure that 60 per cent of packaging waste is recycled by the end of
2008. In 2002, 1937 tonnes of packaging waste were produced by Finland’s 87 McDonald’s outlets, but only 564 tonnes were recycled (29 per cent). However, research suggests that only minor changes need to be made to existing waste collection infrastructures for up to 64 per cent of packaging to be recycled.
The report, Challenges in packaging waste management in the fast food industry, by Aarnio, T and Hämäläinen (2008), is based on research into McDonald's outlets in Finland. It found that only 29 per cent of packaging waste was being recycled, although theoretically 93 per cent of the packaging could be recycled.
European laws aim to ensure that 60 per cent of packaging waste is recycled by the end of
2008. In 2002, 1937 tonnes of packaging waste were produced by Finland’s 87 McDonald’s outlets, but only 564 tonnes were recycled (29 per cent). However, research suggests that only minor changes need to be made to existing waste collection infrastructures for up to 64 per cent of packaging to be recycled.
To improve the recycling rate, researchers called for increased co-operation between waste management, public authorities and the producer organisations. Waste management practices should be designed and operated with the producers’ needs in mind. Public authorities need to develop uniform names for different types of waste, and uniform colour coding for different disposal bins to encourage waste sorting. Finally, government action is necessary to ensure consistency in the solid waste infrastructure and put commercial waste on a clear footing distinct from industrial and household waste.
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EnviroFutures Ltd, Sheffield Technology Park, 60 Shirland Lane, Sheffield
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More
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EnviroFutures Ltd, Sheffield Technology Park, 60 Shirland Lane, Sheffield
South Yorkshire, S9 3SP; Tel: 0114 2213516 Email: info@envirofutures.com
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