When the municipalities have collected the households’ packaging, they are transported to one of around 150 transfer stations spread across the country. Here, NPA takes over the responsibility and the first step towards recycling is to pick up the packaging and transport it to a reception facility, an MOA.
– We have agreements with 42 MOA where the material is roughly sorted and baled for onward transport to our strategic partners or other contracted recycling facilities, says Rizwan Baig.
At the MOA, it is already time for the first quality control, in addition to an ocular inspection of the material, a picture is taken for documentation and follow-up.
– So far, there have been few deviations, but in some cases we have contacted the transfer station in question or alternatively the municipality for a dialogue on how they should improve their handling for an increased quality of the material. A feedback that is appreciated, not least now that all processes are new to all of us, says Rizwan Baig.
NPA works with a large number of entrepreneurs and suppliers to make the recycling chain work and it was an intensive procurement period ahead of January 1st and all the changes.
– We have signed hundreds of agreements in less than a year. But everything has gone well, not least because we have been able to rely on a solid foundation, namely the well-established infrastructure and previous experience from FTI.
NPA makes at least as tough demands on its partners as FTI has done in the past, and in some cases the conditions have even been tightened.
– For some carriers, there is a tight time span for collection, if you want to avoid a fine. The material simply cannot be left lying around,” says Rizwan Baig. “Additionally, we are already planning for future contract periods and how we can further improve the supply chain together and optimize recycling.
To ensure traceability, quarterly spot checks and follow-ups of all recycling facilities that take care of NPA’s material are carried out. For plastic packaging, it’s Swedish Plastic Recycling’s, facility Site Zero in Motala, and for glass packaging, Swedish Glass Recycling’s, facility in Hammar, both strategic partners to NPA.
– The metal packaging is recycled at Skrotfrag in Järna and Ulricehamn and the majority of the paper packaging at Fiskeby Board outside Norrköping, and the rest is exported, says Rizwan Baig. We have good control over where, in what way and what percentage is recycled. The producers must be sure that the material is handled in the best way throughout its journey to become new products.
As the largest producer responsibility organization, NPA is responsible for providing collections points for packaging waste from businesses.
– This means that we had to establish collection points for commercial packaging waste as well and a completely new logistics flow that will gradually be expanded, from 21 sites in January 2024 to 145 at the end of the year and a total of 290 by December 31, 2025, says Rizwan Baig.
The article is part of NPA Magasin