PlasticsEurope, the association representing European plastics producers, has released the results of its first study on polyolefins recycling and recovery rates for rigid applications in Europe. According to PlasticsEurope, the study analyzes recycling and recovery figures for France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom.
The study focuses on bottles, other rigid packaging, automotive and appliance and electronic sectors. The study shows 57 percent of rigid polyolefins were recovered in 2009, of which 1 million metric tons were recycled. The association says this number could grow significantly.
"With an appropriate combination of recycling and energy recovery, a 100 percent diversion of polyolefins from landfills is possible," says Jan-Erik Johansson, program director for resource efficiency at PlasticsEurope. "Equally, I believe that supportive regulatory frameworks and improvements in identification and sorting techniques can certainly help the value chain to achieve this important objective."
The study shows recycling rates vary between European countries, with the recycling rate in Germany standing at 32 percent, while the recycling rate for polyolefins in Poland are at less than 10 percent.
"A great potential exists to increase eco-efficient recycling of polyolefins in many European countries, and successful knowledge transfer within Europe holds the key,” Johansson says.
The research firm Consultic carried out the study.
According to PlasticsEurope, key factors to achieve high recycling and recovery rates include the following: restrictions on landfilling, the development of broader collection schemes for non-bottle rigid packaging, optimized sorting systems and more efficient energy recovery capacities to complement quality recycling.
PlasticsEurope estimates polyolefins (PP, HDPE, LDPE and LLDPE) account for 48 percent of Western Europe’s annual consumption of plastics.
More information is available at www.plasticseurope.org/documents/document/20110929140820-identiplast_-_rigid_po_recycling_and_recovery.pptx.