Key data & benchmarks

General

• Over 316.000 tonnes of plastic bottles were collected in 2012 - 58% of plastic bottles that are consumed by UK households
• In 2012 391 local authorities offer a kerbside collection service that includes plastic bottles
• 1 tonne = 22,000 plastic bottles
• Loose plastic bottles = 20kg/m3

Containers

• Kerbside collection - 240l wheel bin (typical domestic refuse bin) = 120 bottles
• Refuse Collection Vehicle (RCV) with compaction = 2 - 2.5 tonnes plastic bottles
• Bring collection - 1100l wheel bin = 550 bottles / single net cage = 1,650 bottles / 10 cubic yard container = 3,850 bottles

Collection schemes

• Average participation rate for kerbside schemes including plastic bottles in the UK is 68%
• On average nearly 12 kg of plastic bottles are collected per household per year

Sorting statistics

• Manual sorting of plastic bottles = 60-80kg/hr/person
• Automated sorting of plastic bottles = 250-6,000kg/hr depending on equipment