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PAS 105 Sets Quality Focus for Sustainable Paper Recycling

16 August 2007

For a number of years, PaperChain has led the debate on the UK’s need to build a quality management philosophy into its collection and sorting practices for recovered paper, in order to ensure long term sustainable recycling markets.

Recognising this was critical for the municipal waste sector due to its rapid expansion over the last seven years, PaperChain set out to work with Local Authorities, waste management representatives and WRAP, to produce a standard framework to which all stakeholders in the paper recycling chain could refer. This work has culminated in the production of a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) from the British Standards Institution (BSI).  Labelled PAS 105, the specification sets out the key requirements for the municipal waste sector to provide a quality of material that minimises losses from cross contamination throughout the entire recycling process. By providing a consistently high quality raw material stock to the recycler, the collector and sorter are ensuring that maximum recycling process efficiencies can be achieved.  With low non-recyclable waste stream rejects, this can then lead to the highest possible carbon savings.

There are a variety of collection and sorting schemes employed across the UK, and an assortment of paper mill requirements depending on the products being made.  The development of PAS 105 was therefore a long process, as there were many views to take into consideration. However, throughout the process there was a clear consensus that there was a real need for such an overarching document to ensure that all stakeholders could take advantage of the simplicity of paper recycling when given a quality feedstock.

PaperChain would like to thank all those who contributed to the many hours required to bring the document together, and to WRAP for their support during some difficult times.

PaperChain’s Chairman, Martin Green, remarked, “PaperChain has been active for a number of years in raising the profile of quality management in the collection and sorting of recovered paper to ensure sustainable markets in the UK and overseas, and it is good to see all the stakeholders coming together on a piece of work such as PAS 105.”  He continued, “Although the PAS has taken longer to come to fruition than many expected, it is now available for everyone to use. Alone, the PAS does not change things; it is how it is interpreted and used by all the stakeholders that will determine its effectiveness in achieving the economic, environmental and carbon benefits of paper recycling.”

PaperChain and the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) will support PAS 105 by offering support and advice to all stakeholders in the paper recovery chain on their impacts on paper recycling.

ENDS

For further information please contact Catherine Watson, External Affairs Coordinator, on 01793 889612 or email cwatson@paper.org.uk.

Notes to Editors

• For additional information on PaperChain, in the first instance please contact Catherine Watson, External Affairs Coordinator, on 01793 889612 or email cwatson@paper.org.uk. 
• PaperChain Members used around 3.5 million tonnes of recovered paper and board in 2006, representing 82% of recovered paper and board used in the UK, and 43% of recovered paper and board collected from the UK waste stream.