DS Smith: Wet Winter Weather Poised to Hinder Recycling Operations

The rain will turn cardboards into a ‘wet magnet’ for plastics and other contaminants, the company said.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): DS Smith, a renowned global packaging company located in London, has stated that wet weather is expected to impede its recycling operations over the winter. The company is concerned that paper and card recycling systems may see a nearly 40% rise in plastic contamination when compared to the summer months.

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Over 5,000 tonnes of plastic may enter the UK's paper and card recycling system over the winter months, impacting the quality of the cards and paper sent for recycling. The rain would transform cardboard into a 'wet magnet' for plastics and other impurities, according to the company.

Jonathan Scott, Technical Operations Director at DS Smith's Kemsley Paper Mill, asked customers to follow their local recycling standards to ensure that their paper and cards are recycled as efficiently as possible. Other preventive measures include keeping the lid on the bin, storing cardboard inside when it rains, allowing the recycling to dry if it needs to be washed, and even transporting the recycling to local recycling centers if necessary.

The company discovered that collecting paper and cards separately from other materials can solve many of these contamination issues.

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