As well as this 5% reduction in the quantity of plastic packaging, Recoup’s survey also suggests there was a similar drop in the amount collected from the kerbside by local authorities.
Policy and infrastructure manager Tom McBeth said: "While collected material also dropped, in the context of the amount of material used, it shows a picture of stagnation in collection levels with service provision also remaining similar to the 2022 survey.”
The online survey covers all UK local authorities, county councils and waste partnerships, with the full version available to Recoup members.
It found that 578,000 kilotonnes of plastic packaging was collected from households for recycling in 2022. Of this, two-thirds were plastic bottles, 29% was polytrimethylene terephthalate and 4% was film.
But it found a “plateau in the development of kerbside provision”, saying that, while all local authorities have collected plastic bottles for recycling since 2019, the number collecting pots, tubs and trays has not risen from 88% since 2021.
Overall, it found that 1,154,000 tonnes of plastic packaging was declared recycled in 2022, giving a rate of 52%.
It said that the collection of plastics and flexibles had dropped from 13% to 12% - the sixth consecutive year this figure has fallen.
“Policy alone may not unpick some of the complexities local authorities have with their collection contracts and infrastructure,” read a Recoup statement, noting that recent progress on resource and waste reforms now allowed councils to plan ahead.
“But to avoid a further slide or stagnation in household plastic collections, efforts need to be made sooner rather than later, particularly with recycling targets due to increase.”
It said more resources were needed on behaviour change programmes, finding a small increase in reject rates, which averaged 14% across respondents.
Recoup has also launched its UK Citizen Plastics Recycling Behaviours Insights Survey 2023, which found 7% fewer citizens were claiming to recycle plastic drinks bottles every time.
Anne Hitch, business and project development lead at Recoup, said nearly a third of the survey respondents said they often do not recycle items due to confusion: “If we are to gain ground in terms of kerbside tonnages and quality of plastics, it is crucial that investment in plastics recycling communications is given priority.”
