PlasticsEurope has revealed results of the first-ever study on polyolefins recycling and recovery rates in rigid applications in Europe, as per PRW. The research analyses recycling and recovery figures for France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the UK. It focuses on bottles, other rigid packaging, automotive and appliance and electronic sectors, and reveals that 57% of rigid polyolefins were recovered in 2009. Out of these, 1 mln tons of waste was recycled – barely a fraction of what can be achieved.
The study shows that national recycling performances differ widely from one country to another; reaching for instance 32% in Germany and less than 10% in Poland. “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 noted.
The study, carried out by market research consultancy Consultic, is an important step for the industry as it demonstrates that polyolefin articles are indeed recyclable and should be actively included in suitable collection schemes. According to PlasticsEurope, key factors to achieve high recycling and recovery rates include restrictions on landfill, the development of broader collection schemes for non-bottle rigid packaging and optimised sorting systems, coupled with efficient energy recovery capacities to complement quality recycling.
30-Sep-11 
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