MRF Regulations

The MRF Regulations, sometimes known colloquially as the MRF Code of Practice (MRF CoP), were published in February 2013 and required all material recovery facilities over a certain size to measure the quality of their inputs and outputs. 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.

Introduction

The MRF Regulations, sometimes known colloquially as the MRF Code of Practice (MRF CoP), were published in February 2013 and required all 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 Authorities and others who supply material to the MRFs . 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.

MRF Code

The MRF Code of Practice is enacted through Sch 9 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 which has now been transposed into the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. The requirements took effect from 1 Oct 2014 and required that MRFs to whom the regulations applied must:

• sample and test the materials they receive and send out
• record the information
• report every 3 months to the regulator

The MRF Code of Practice applies to any facility (known as 'Qualifying MRFs') that receive over 1,000 tonnes or more of 'Mixed Waste Material' - the definition of which is waste originating from households or waste from other sources if it is similar to household waste in terms of its nature or composition.

Wastes 'similar to household waste' are those typically found in a household waste stream such as plastic bottles (typically ≤5 litres), pots, tubs and trays (PTTs) used for food packaging (typically ≤525cm in their longest dimension), flexible plastic packaging, glass bottles and jars, food tins, steel or aluminium drinks cans, newspapers and magazines and cardboard packaging.

For non-household waste to fall under the definition of Mixed Waste Material the two or more fractions of glass, metal, plastic or paper that make up the largest proportion (≥50%) of the waste should be similar in composition to those wastes described above.

Facilities which are in scope

The facilities that are within the scope of the regulations include:

• Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) sorting household dry recyclables
• Commercial Waste sorting operations and transfer stations where materials similar to household wastes are sorted into two or more Specified Output Materials (e.g. a MF sorting plastics and cans would be in scope although one sorting a single stream such as paper and card would not).

Facilities which are out of scope

• Waste Transfer Stations acting only as bulking points (with no sorting activities)
• Waste Transfer Stations that sort Commercial and Industrial Waste (C&I) wastes unless the commercial waste meets the definition of Mixed Waste Material. industrial derived material does not fall under the scope of the REgulations.
• Household Waste Recycling Centres
• commercial and Industrial Waste MRFs (C&I) (MRFs) unless the commercial waste meets the definition of Mixed Waste Material.
• MRFs sorting only residual waste ('Dirty' MRFs)
• Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plants including those used at autoclave facilites unless Mixed Waste Material is accepted for any MRF operations that form part of the process.
• Refuse Derived Fuel production facilities
• WEEE management facilities
• MRFs seperating materials from Construction and Demolition Waste

If any of the aforementioned facilities accept Mixed Waste Material for sorting, even for a limited period, above the thresholds, then the Regulations apply.

Materials to be sampled - Incoming

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, metal, paper and plastic. Cardboard and cartons that include cardboard as a composite material should be included in the paper category.

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.

From October 2024 this frequency will increase to 60kg for every 75 tonnes received.

From October 2024 the range of materials will expand to 10 to include:

• Glass
• Aluminium
• Steel
• Paper
• Card
• Plastic bottles
• PTTs
• Film or other flexible plastic
• Other plastic
• Fibre based composite material.

Materials to be sampled - Outgoing

Sampling of Specified Output Materials must be undertaken with consideration given to the grade of material output from the MF. Example grades might include clear PET bottles and green glass. The frequency of sampling is as follows:

Sampling Frequency and Size

Material	Sampling frequency from 1st Oct 2016	Sample size (kg)	Change from October 2024
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

Sampling Planning

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 .

A review of the overall sampling approach was published in July 2023 and the approach was found to be satisfactory.

Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements

The Regulations require reports to be submitted to the Regulator every 3 months. The four reporting periods each year are:

• 1 January to 31 March. Returns due by 30 April.
• 1 April to 30 June. Returns due by 31 July.
• 1 July to 30 September. Returns due by 31 October.
• 1 October to 31 December. Returns due by 31 January

Reports must be submitted to the Regulator electronically within one month of the end of the Reporting Period.

For an incoming Mixed Waste Material the following information is required:

• The total weight in tonnes of Mixed Waste Material received at the MF from each Supplier requiring sampling under the Regulations.
• The total number of samples taken for each of these Suppliers.
• The total weight in kilograms of all samples taken for each of these Suppliers.
• The Average percentage composition of target glass, metal, paper and plastic in Mixed Waste Material delivered by each of these Suppliers, based on all applicable sample results.
• The Average percentage composition levels of Target Material, Non-Target Material and Non-Recyclable Materials delivered by each of these Suppliers, based on all applicable sample results.
• The standard deviation of the Average percentage composition level of Target Materials for each of these Suppliers, based on all applicable sample results.

For outgoing material leaving the MF in a given Reporting Period the following infomation is required:

• The total weight in tonnes of each Specified Output Material that leaves the MF
• The total weight in tonnes of Mixed Waste Material transferred to other MFs for the purposes of separating into Specified Output Materials and the destination of each MF transfer.
• The total weight in tonnes of all other waste that leaves the MRF|MF]] and details of where it has been sent.
• The total number of samples taken for each Specified Output Material.
• The total weight in kilograms of all samples taken for each Specified Output Material.
• The Average percentage of all samples by reference to grades of glass, metal, paper and plastic
• The Average percentage of Target Materials, Non-Target Materials and Non-Recyclable materials by grades of glass, metal, paper or plastic in the samples
• The standard deviation of the Average percentage composition levels for the Target Materials, based on all of the applicable sample results.