PLASTICS RECYCLING
APME / TNO: First European study on ecological efficiency of plastics packaging recycling
An increased use of material recycling for used plastics packaging could continuously increase waste disposal costs all over Europe. Moreover, the ecological benefits of this method are limited. This is the quite provocative result of the first European study on the ecological efficiency of plastics packaging disposal methods which was commissioned by the Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe (APME, B-1160 Brussels; www.apme.org), representative of the European plastics industry and carried out by the independent Dutch research institute TNO-MEP (NL-7300 AH Appeldoorn; www.mep.tro.nl).
Neil Mayne, head of APME´s Technology and Environment department: “The European plastics industry welcomes the results of this first ecological efficiency study, because it helps in the current debate about the European regulations board and its focus on the future ratio of material recycling to other recovery methods. We hope therefore, that the study will positively contribute to a reasonable decision-making process and facilitate the division of future waste disposal strategies.” According to TNO, the highest ecological efficiency is achieved by a combination of 15% material recycling (comprising material and feedstock recycling) of segregated basic material with 85% energy recycling. This is the result of computer simulations carried out by scientists who examined the ecological and economic consequences of different waste disposal scenarios.
APME described the situation in Europe today as follows: 15% of the total amount of plastics packaging waste undergo material recycling and 15% are used for energy recovery. An increase of the material / feedstock recycling rate to 50% would not yield any significant ecological advantages. Costs however, would rise threefold, says APME.
In their studies, scientists took into account the current methods for material recycling of segregated basic material or mixed plastic materials as well as current feedstock or energy recycling methods. According to the study, short-term environmental benefits can be achieved by an increased use of energy recovery methods for treating domestic waste. At the same time, a stronger focus on material recycling for industrial waste instead of domestic waste would help reduce costs.
The first European ecological efficiency study on plastics packaging recycling has been assessed by a committee of independent scientists who confirmed the validity of the findings. APME claims that despite the fact that the study focuses on plastics packaging, it could be indicative of the situation of other areas of plastics waste. However, the expert assessment of the study emphasises the fact that the result cannot be generalised for all regional situations in Europe, because the amount of waste created, the composition and regional collecting systems may vary substantially. The plastics industry pointed out that all waste disposal solutions should be ecologically efficient and all ecological and economic factors should be considered. Regional differences should therefore also be taken into account.
• e-Service:
TNO´s study on eco-efficiency of recovery scenarios of plastic packaging as PDF document (649KB)
Neil Mayne, head of APME´s Technology and Environment department: “The European plastics industry welcomes the results of this first ecological efficiency study, because it helps in the current debate about the European regulations board and its focus on the future ratio of material recycling to other recovery methods. We hope therefore, that the study will positively contribute to a reasonable decision-making process and facilitate the division of future waste disposal strategies.” According to TNO, the highest ecological efficiency is achieved by a combination of 15% material recycling (comprising material and feedstock recycling) of segregated basic material with 85% energy recycling. This is the result of computer simulations carried out by scientists who examined the ecological and economic consequences of different waste disposal scenarios.
APME described the situation in Europe today as follows: 15% of the total amount of plastics packaging waste undergo material recycling and 15% are used for energy recovery. An increase of the material / feedstock recycling rate to 50% would not yield any significant ecological advantages. Costs however, would rise threefold, says APME.
In their studies, scientists took into account the current methods for material recycling of segregated basic material or mixed plastic materials as well as current feedstock or energy recycling methods. According to the study, short-term environmental benefits can be achieved by an increased use of energy recovery methods for treating domestic waste. At the same time, a stronger focus on material recycling for industrial waste instead of domestic waste would help reduce costs.
The first European ecological efficiency study on plastics packaging recycling has been assessed by a committee of independent scientists who confirmed the validity of the findings. APME claims that despite the fact that the study focuses on plastics packaging, it could be indicative of the situation of other areas of plastics waste. However, the expert assessment of the study emphasises the fact that the result cannot be generalised for all regional situations in Europe, because the amount of waste created, the composition and regional collecting systems may vary substantially. The plastics industry pointed out that all waste disposal solutions should be ecologically efficient and all ecological and economic factors should be considered. Regional differences should therefore also be taken into account.
• e-Service:
TNO´s study on eco-efficiency of recovery scenarios of plastic packaging as PDF document (649KB)
22.11.2001 Plasteurope.com [16368]
Published on 22.11.2001