The European Plastics Recyclers Association (EuPR, Brussels / Belgium; www.eupr.org) has created a working group to promote the recycling of mixed plastics and coordinate the initiatives of the mixed plastics recyclers. Michael Scriba, chairman of the new Working Group on Mixed Plastics, said the group will “fight the current market failures that are blocking the development of mixed plastics recycling in Europe”.

Recycling of mixed plastics can contribute to increased levels of plastics recycling in Europe, said Scriba, who is CEO of MTM Plastics (www.mtm-plastics.eu). Mixed plastics do not have to be predestined for energy recovery, he stressed. EuPR estimates that about 10% of post-consumer waste arising from packaging can be considered as mixed plastics. Various collection schemes are now looking into this prospective stream to help them meet future recycling targets, it said. However, these developments must be carefully supervised so they do not jeopardise existing plastics recycling efforts, EuPR added.

The group will be launched in Bad Neuenahr / Germany on 7 June 2011. Mixed plastics recyclers should contact EuPR to take part.