Reaching for a circular economy

Lisa McKenna

Our cover story profile for this issue focuses on Ciparo BV, based in Rotterdam, a recovered fibre and plastic scrap supplier and trading firm with offices in the Netherlands, Belgium, China and Vietnam. You can read all about this dynamic company in “Expanded Scope,” by Editor Brian Taylor, beginning on page 20.

An interesting theme reflected in Ciparo’s story and often shared by many other recyclers is the fact that the supply of recovered fibre throughout Europe and beyond continues to be strained.

The supply of plastic scrap also has been described as tight, at least regarding popular packaging grades such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP).

With regard to paper, digitalisation has been blamed for the decreasing collections of old newspapers and sorted office paper from the commercial and residential sectors.

Even so, collection and recycling rates in the 28 European Union (EU) member states remain quite high. The European Recovered Paper Council reported in late June that despite decreasing paper consumption in Europe, the collection and recycling rate for paper was stable at 72%.

On the plastics side, recycling rates have struggled in some areas. Attesting to that observation, Herbert Snell, vice chair of the working group on HDPE and PP for Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE), has described the collection rate of HDPE and PP bottle fractions as “weak.”

However, developments on the horizon appear to hold promise for both paper and plastics recycling throughout the EU-28 in the near future. One is the European Commission’s recent adoption of a zero-waste programme, the Circular Economy Package. Now awaiting review by the European Parliament, the package hopes to stimulate the EU economy, boost recycling rates and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The proposal also calls for a ban on the landfill of recyclable materials by 2025.

A number of industry groups have applauded the package. Although they are calling for clarification on some of its finer points, the groups have also pledged to work together to make progress.

On a separate note, in this issue, please don’t miss our inaugural list and map of European auto shredding locations, which begins on page 38. With the help of key industry associations, we’ve compiled a rundown of some 350 plants in the 28 European Union member states and Norway. An interactive map of these locations also is available at www.RecyclingToday.com/rtge0914-European-auto-shredders-map.aspx.