Waste management - sampling and reporting at materials facilities: draft code of practice

4. Input sampling and reporting obligations

This section applies to any authorised MF operator handling 1,000 tonnes or more of dry recyclable waste per annum and:

• Sorting dry recyclable waste into specified output material, and/or
• Consolidating or ‘bulking’ dry recyclable waste from two or more suppliers.

4.1. Input sampling obligations: general

17. An authorised MF operator with input sampling obligations must, for each named supplier:

a) Measure the total weight in tonnes of mixed dry recyclable waste received at the facility, during each reporting period, from that supplier;

b) Take samples of the mixed dry recyclable waste received at the facility, during each reporting period, from that supplier;

c) Measure the total weight in tonnes of single stream dry recyclable waste received at the facility, during each reporting period, from that supplier;

d) Take samples of single stream dry recyclable waste received at the facility during each reporting period, from that supplier;

e) Sort samples into target, non-target and non-recyclable materials, and measure weight and the composition of each sample.

18. Sampling must be carried out in accordance with subsection 4.2.

4.2. Requirements for sampling

19. One sample must be taken for every 75 tonnes of dry recyclable waste received at the MF from each supplier.

20. Each sample taken must weigh at least 55kg. The average weight per sample must be 60 kg or more. A sample may be collected in several parts contemporaneously, provided that no part weighs less than 20 kg.

21. The composition of a sample is determined by reference to:

a) The types and weight in kilograms of target material, non-target material and non-recyclable material that is contained in the sample, and

b) The types and weight in kilograms of packaging that is contained in each type of target material, non-target material and non-recyclable material including by reference to drink containers (and their parts including the lid or other seal of the container) as a type of packaging.

22. Material that is identified in a sample must, at a minimum, be separately identified by reference to the following types:

a) Glass,

b) Paper,

c) Cardboard,

d) Steel,

e) Aluminium,

f) Other plastic,

g) Plastic pots, tubs and trays,

h) Plastic bottles,

i) Plastic film and other flexible plastic,

j) Fibre-based composite material.

4.3. Transferred or rejected loads

23. Dry recyclable waste received at a sorting facility that is not sorted at the receiving facility and is instead transferred to another MF for sorting need not be sampled. However, the weight of this material, each location where this material is sent, the identity of each supplier and, where appropriate, each buyer, must be recorded.

24. Where an authorised MF operator has rejected a load received at the facility, in the case of each rejected load, the reason for rejection must be recorded, along with the weight, the location where that load was then sent, and the identity of the supplier and, where appropriate, the buyer. An authorised MF operator is not required to sample rejected loads to establish their composition.

4.4. Recording and reporting requirements

25. In each reporting period, the authorised MF operator must record the information in Table 2 and report it to SEPA.