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Flows of post-consumer plastic packaging in Germany : an MFA-aided case study
Publikationstyp
Journal Article
Date Issued
2021-02-26
Sprache
English
TORE-URI
Volume
169
Article Number
105515
Citation
Resources, Conservation and Recycling 169: 105515 (2021)
Publisher DOI
Scopus ID
Publisher
Elsevier Science
This study aims at defining the current state-of-affairs of the German post-consumer plastic packaging (PCPP) sector. By the use of the Material Flow Analysis (MFA) tool, a comprehensive investigation of the currently available PCPP waste collection and treatment system is conducted, which enables understanding the intrinsic inefficiencies of the waste value chain. The analysis utilises primary data (by conducting manual sorting activities) as well as secondary data (literature-based). Sorting has been performed taking into consideration the plastic packaging applications and material composition, polymer types, and moisture and dirt.
Results show that the per capita generation of PCPP waste is 26.3 kg ± 3.0% in the year 2017 in Germany. The separate collection efficiency is 74.8% ± 2.9%, considering all separate collection systems (i.e. deposit system for PET bottles and Dual System). The study confirms that most of the material losses occur at the sorting stage mostly as a result of the complex packaging designs, where a combination of different materials is common practise. Overall, the net material recycling rate is 26.4% ± 1.3%, calculated on the basis of the net generated waste and excluding the potential recycling of the mixed polyolefin stream. If recycled material from mixed polyolefins is included, this figure increases to 37.8% ± 2.0%.
The maximisation of the PCPP re-circulation potential requires collaborative policies addressing all the stakeholders in the value chain, starting from producers (product design), followed by the consumer (responsible and correct disposal), then the sorting facilities (by utilising state-of-the-art technologies and targeted sorting).
Results show that the per capita generation of PCPP waste is 26.3 kg ± 3.0% in the year 2017 in Germany. The separate collection efficiency is 74.8% ± 2.9%, considering all separate collection systems (i.e. deposit system for PET bottles and Dual System). The study confirms that most of the material losses occur at the sorting stage mostly as a result of the complex packaging designs, where a combination of different materials is common practise. Overall, the net material recycling rate is 26.4% ± 1.3%, calculated on the basis of the net generated waste and excluding the potential recycling of the mixed polyolefin stream. If recycled material from mixed polyolefins is included, this figure increases to 37.8% ± 2.0%.
The maximisation of the PCPP re-circulation potential requires collaborative policies addressing all the stakeholders in the value chain, starting from producers (product design), followed by the consumer (responsible and correct disposal), then the sorting facilities (by utilising state-of-the-art technologies and targeted sorting).
Subjects
Post-consumer waste
Plastic packaging
Material flow analysis
Plastic waste sorting
Mechanical recycling
DDC Class
600: Technik
620: Ingenieurwissenschaften