Postcollection separation of plastic recycling and design-for-recycling as solutions to low cost-effectiveness and plastic debris

Raymond Gradus*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

In the Netherlands, plastic waste recycling is high on the policy agenda. Much effort is made to recycle, mostly by residents, who separate plastic waste at home. However, much of the separated waste is not recycled into new products. Substantial amounts are burned or even shipped to Asia. This leads to substantial plastic debris, as recent evidence has shown. Moreover, the cost-effectiveness of plastic recycling versus incineration is very low. Based on evidence from the north of the Netherlands, postcollection or mechanical separation can be a viable alternative as more useful plastics are separated and there are indications that different plastic streams are of higher polymeric purity. Furthermore, there is some circumstantial evidence that cost-effectiveness increases if postseparation is chosen. To avoid large streams of mixed plastics that are barely recyclable, it is important that further agreements with the packaging industry are made to phase out these mixed plastics and further increase the polymeric purity of different plastic waste streams.

Original languageEnglish
Article number8415
Pages (from-to)1-12
Number of pages12
JournalSustainability
Volume12
Issue number20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Oct 2020

Keywords

  • Cost-effectiveness
  • Plastic debris
  • Plastic waste
  • Polymeric purity
  • Postseparation

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