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MRF Regulations: Difference between revisions
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[[Category: Legislation & Policy]][[Category:Targets & Metrics]] | [[Category: Legislation & Policy]][[Category:Targets & Metrics]] | ||
The [[MRF Code of Practice]] (MRF CoP) | The [[MRF Regulations]], sometimes known colloquially as the [[MRF Code of Practice]] (MRF CoP), were published in February 2013 and required all [[Material Recovery Facility|material recovery facilities]] over a certain size to measure the quality of their inputs and outputs<ref name="Lets>[https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/long-awaited-mrf-code-of-practice-unveiled/ Letsrecycle], 2013</ref>. In October 2024 these regulations will be amended and the [[Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2023]] will apply which aim to place a greater onus on the frequency of sampling and the range of materials to be measured<ref name="Update">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/materials-facilities-waste-sampling-and-reporting-from-october-2024</ref>. | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
The [[MRF Code of Practice]] (MRF CoP) | The [[MRF Regulations]], sometimes known colloquially as the [[MRF Code of Practice]] (MRF CoP), were published in February 2013 and required all [[Material Recovery Facility|material recovery facilities]] over a certain size to measure the quality of their inputs and outputs. The [[MRF Regulations]] introduced a new requirement to make all results from these tests publicly available, for example to businesses buying the material as well as to [[Local Authority|Local Authorities]] and others who supply material to the MRFs <ref name="Lets" />. It did not set any minimum quality standards. A full list of sites can be found on the page [[Qualifying MRFs]]. As of October 2024 the regulations are to be amended to place a greater onus on the frequency of sampling and the range of materials to be measured<ref name="Update" />. | ||
==MRF Code== | ==MRF Code== | ||
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* sample and test the materials they receive and send out | * sample and test the materials they receive and send out | ||
*record the information | * record the information | ||
*report every 3 months to the regulator | * report every 3 months to the regulator | ||
The [[MRF Code of Practice]] applies to any facility (known as 'Qualifying [[MRF]]s') that receive over 1,000 tonnes or more of 'Mixed Waste Material' - the definition of which is [[Waste|waste]] originating from households or [[Waste|waste]] from other sources if it is similar to [[household Waste|household waste]] in terms of its nature or composition<ref name="WRAP">[https://wrap.org.uk/resources/case-study/materials-recovery-facilities-mrfs-sorting-guide/ Sampling and Testing Guidance for Material Facilities] WRAP 2014</ref>. | The [[MRF Code of Practice]] applies to any facility (known as 'Qualifying [[MRF]]s') that receive over 1,000 tonnes or more of 'Mixed Waste Material' - the definition of which is [[Waste|waste]] originating from households or [[Waste|waste]] from other sources if it is similar to [[household Waste|household waste]] in terms of its nature or composition<ref name="WRAP">[https://wrap.org.uk/resources/case-study/materials-recovery-facilities-mrfs-sorting-guide/ Sampling and Testing Guidance for Material Facilities] WRAP 2014</ref>. | ||
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==Facilities which are in scope<ref name="WRAP" />== | ==Facilities which are in scope<ref name="WRAP" />== | ||
The facilities that are | The facilities that are within the scope of the regulations include: | ||
* Material Recovery Facilities ([[MRF]]s) sorting household dry [[Recyclables|recyclables]] | * Material Recovery Facilities ([[MRF]]s) sorting household dry [[Recyclables|recyclables]] | ||
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Incoming mixed waste material must be sampled to identify [[Target Material]], Non-Recyclable Material and [[Non-Target Material]]. The [[Target Material]] must as a minimum be separately identified by reference to [[Glass|glass]], [[Metal|metal]], [[Paper|paper]] and [[Plastic|plastic]]. Cardboard and cartons that include cardboard as a composite material should be included in the [[Paper|paper]] category. | Incoming mixed waste material must be sampled to identify [[Target Material]], Non-Recyclable Material and [[Non-Target Material]]. The [[Target Material]] must as a minimum be separately identified by reference to [[Glass|glass]], [[Metal|metal]], [[Paper|paper]] and [[Plastic|plastic]]. Cardboard and cartons that include cardboard as a composite material should be included in the [[Paper|paper]] category. | ||
The minimum required sample weight for ''Mixed Waste Material'' inputs is 55kg and the average weight of all samples of ''Mixed Waste Material'' in a reporting period must be 60kg or more. A full sample must be collected in one go and it is not acceptable to take smaller sample sizes at more regular intervals in order to collect a sample<ref name ="WRAP" />. | From 1st Oct 2016 a sample of ''Mixed Waste Material'' must be taken every 125 tonnes from each supplier. | ||
The minimum required sample weight for ''Mixed Waste Material'' inputs is 55kg and the average weight of all samples of ''Mixed Waste Material'' in a reporting period must be 60kg or more. A full sample must be collected in one go and it is not acceptable to take smaller sample sizes at more regular intervals in order to collect a sample<ref name ="WRAP" />. | |||
From October 2024 this frequency will increase to 60kg for every 75 tonnes received<ref name="Update" />. | |||
From October 2024 the range of materials will expand to 10 to include<ref name="Update" />: | |||
* [[Glass]] | |||
* [[Metal|Aluminium]] | |||
* [[Metal|Steel]] | |||
* [[Paper]] | |||
* [[Card]] | |||
* [[Plastic|Plastic bottles]] | |||
* [[PTT]]s | |||
* [[Plastic|Film or other flexible plastic]] | |||
* [[Plastic|Other plastic]] | |||
* Fibre based composite material. | |||
==Materials to be sampled - Outgoing== | ==Materials to be sampled - Outgoing== | ||
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|+ Sampling Frequency and Size | |+ Sampling Frequency and Size | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Material !! Sampling frequency from 1st Oct 2016 !! Sample size (kg) | ! Material !! Sampling frequency from 1st Oct 2016 !! Sample size (kg)!! Change from October 2024<ref name="Update" /> | ||
|- | |||
| [[Paper]] || Every 60 tonnes produced || 50 || Unchanged, but measured by grade and proportion of packaging and DRS material | |||
|- | |- | ||
| [[ | | [[Glass]] || Every 50 tonnes produced || 10 || Unchanged, but measured by grade and proportion of packaging and DRS material | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[ | | [[Metal]] || Every 20 tonnes produced || 10 || Unchanged, but measured by grade and proportion of packaging and DRS material | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[ | | [[Plastic]] || Every 15 tonnes produced || 20 || Unchanged, but measured by grade and proportion of packaging and DRS material | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |Fibre-based composites|| from October 2024 ||from October 2024 || every 60 tonnes, 50kg sample, Umeasured by grade and proportion of packaging and DRS material | ||
|} | |} | ||
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[[MRF|MFs]] should develop a quarterly plan for sampling of input materials from different suppliers and for ''Specified Output Materials'' based on the requirements set out in the Regulations. Sampling should be scheduled so it is as representative as possible i.e. arranging for the incoming material to be undertaken at different times and on different days and for ''Specified Output Material'', samples should be taken at different times and on different days as well as taken from all shifts including night and weekend shifts if possible <ref name="WRAP" />. | [[MRF|MFs]] should develop a quarterly plan for sampling of input materials from different suppliers and for ''Specified Output Materials'' based on the requirements set out in the Regulations. Sampling should be scheduled so it is as representative as possible i.e. arranging for the incoming material to be undertaken at different times and on different days and for ''Specified Output Material'', samples should be taken at different times and on different days as well as taken from all shifts including night and weekend shifts if possible <ref name="WRAP" />. | ||
A review of the overall sampling approach was published in July 2023 and the approach was found to be satisfactory<ref>https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-permitting-regulations-2016-material-facilities-rpc-opinion-green-rated</ref>. | |||
==Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements<ref name="WRAP" />== | ==Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements<ref name="WRAP" />== | ||