What is the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM)?
To understand the fees you're going to pay under Extended Producer Responsibility, EPR, you need to understand the Recyclability Assessment Methodology - or RAM.
What is RAM?
The Recyclability Assessment Methodology, RAM, is the framework used in the UK to link recyclability and cost under Extended Producer Responsibility.
Think of it like this:
The more recyclable the material, generally the less you’ll have to pay.
Easy.
What’s it’s purpose?
There’s a couple of reasons why the RAM framework is used in conjunction with EPR.
First and foremost, it’s intended use is to incentivise producers and organisations to look at more sustainable practices and packaging. The framework considers every aspect of the packaging journey, from sorting & collection, to processing & reuse.
Secondly, the Recyclability Assessment Methodology directly affects the fees you’ll pay as part of your Extended Producer Responsibility. If you’re using difficult/impossible to recycle materials, you’re going to pay more.
If we get down to brass tax, the purpose of RAM is to make the producer conscious off their efforts regarding sustainability, and how they plan to move to a more circular economy.
How does it work?
The Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) assesses recyclability through multi-stage processes. Taking into account steps such as:
- Composition – what is it made of?
- Collection – how easily can it be collected?
- Sorting – can it be easily sorted?
- Processing – can it be repurposed into new material?
- Reusability – can it be used to create new products?
Based on the answers to each of these questions, materials will then be graded using a traffic light system:
- Green: Widely recycled in the UK
- Amber: Recyclable but made need specialised collection or processing
- Red: Challenging to recycle
How To: The Recyclability Assessment Methodology
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Why is RAM Important?
The Recyclability Assessment Methodology is important for several reasons.
Costs: You need to prepare and account for what you’ll have to pay. Understanding where your packaging falls under the RAM framework, allows you to budget accordingly for your Extended Producer Responsibility.
Driving Sustainability: This is linked directly to your costs. If you’re using non-recyclable or difficult to recyclable material, this is your opportunity to review it. Choosing more sustainable options in your packaging, and driving the sustainability change through your business, directly impacts your budgets and bottom line.
Increasing Recyclability: Guess what? Choosing more sustainable packaging means that recyclability rates increase and the reliance on virgin material decrease. As RAM is a multi-stage assessment tool, the more you can show your packaging is recyclable, the better you’ll do.
The Circular Economy: The big one. As circular economy suggests, it’s the process of keeping material within use for as long as possible. The Recyclability Assessment Methodology helps to support businesses in their efforts to transition from linear to circular.