Tablets spell trouble for Waste Economics

Rise of the tablet could spell trouble for waste economics

The growing trend of consuming media on tablet devices such as iPads could have profound consequences for municipal recycling figures, a leading waste analyst has warned.
James Fulford, a director with Eunomia Research & Consulting, argues that, as electronic media starts to overtake that of printed, local authorities and MRF operators could suffer financial repercussions because of falling newsprint volumes in recycling collections.
Fulford said newsprint has been "fundamental" to council recycling collection schemes since they were first established, being relatively cheap to collect and commanding a healthy resale price.
According to recent figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, around four million fewer newspapers were circulated in 2013 than 2008, meaning a lot less paper is now available for material capture.
"It's not just waste collectors such as local authorities that are affected, the souring of our love affair with newsprint has impacts further along the value chain," Fulford observed.
Fulford believes government must work more closely with the recycling industry to take account of these trends and implement measures to help it adapt to these changing waste compositions.