Recycling of plastic packaging in building materials An Vossen Executive Manager
Plarebel PLAREBEL is a non-profit organisation that promotes the recycling of all plastic waste types in Belgium. Its members represent the plastic industry (producers, converters and users). PLAREBEL mainly acts as an expertise centre for FOST Plus (ie. Belgian Green Dot organisation) with regard to the organisation of the collection and sorting, the recycling of household plastic packaging waste in Belgium, contributing to an efficient implementation of the recycling activities in Belgium. Competence centre. Plarebel accumulates and develops knowledge and expertise on the collection, sorting, and recycling of plastic packaging and packaging waste. They monitor technological developments in packaging and recycling, maintain contacts with existing and potential recyclers, and study the recyclability of new packaging. Monitoring. Plarebel carries out administrative and operational checks in the field. They visit sorting centres and recyclers to ensure the recycling quality that Fost Plus guarantees. In case of complaints about quality, they provide Fost Plus with expert advice.
Plastic demand by segment (EU27+N+CH, 2011) 47 Mtonne Others 26,4% Packaging 39,4% Electrical & Electronic 5,4% Automotive 8,3% Building / construction 20,5% Source: PlasticsEurope
When plastic becomes a waste
Post-consumer plastic waste (generated) (EU27+N+CH, 2011) Others 14% 25,1 Mtonne Agriculture 5% Housewares, Leisure, Sports, etc. 3% WEEE 5% Automotive 5% Building/Construction 6% Packaging 62% Source: Plastic Data Alliance
Post-consumer plastic waste (recycled) (EU27+N+CH, 2011) Housewares, Leisure, Sports, etc. 0% WEEE 3% Automotive 3% Building/Construction 4% Agriculture 5% 6,3 Mtonne Others 2% Packaging 83% Source: Plastic Data Alliance
Plastic collection & recycling In 2011 more than 6,3 million tonnes of plastic waste was collected for recycling in Europe, of which 5,2 million tonnes of packaging waste. Collection and recycling of plastic waste is continuing to grow in various recycling schemes across Europe. Not only quantity, but above all quality is key to success! Over the years, the plastic recycling industry has successfully addressed several grand challenges to improve the quality of their end products using innovative processes and technologies. Millions of tonnes of recycled plastics are being used for new products, although this is not known by many!
Sorted plastic waste from PMD
PET bottle recycling
End-use applications for rpet (EU) Source: PCI for PETCORE Blowmoulding 25% Other; 2% Fiber 39% Sheet 25% Strapping 9% Source: PCI for Petcore
rpet in building materials
rpet in building materials GLYCOLYSIS PET can be depolymerised by glycolysis to obtain oligomeric diols and polyols. These monomeric units can be used as a substrate in the production of PET or PUR
HDPE bottle recycling
End-use applications for r-hdpe (BE) 7% 7% 5% Eindmarkten Eindmarkten per product per (HDPE product - 2012) (HDPE - 2012) 2% 9% 4% 2% 2% 5% 0% 9% 4% 2% 5% 0% folieblazen folieblazen 5% folies (thermovorm) folies (therm buizen (gegolfd) buizen (geg 7% kabelgoten kabelgoten afvoerkanalenafvoerkana andere extrusie andere extr 7% andere injectieandere inje flessen of flacons flessen of fl gieters gieters andere blowmoulding andere blow 59% 59%
rhdpe in building materials
Outlook 2020 No Landfill for untreated MSW. More recycling : Increased recycling targets on packaging and on plastics (moving towards material management). Increased collection of packaging waste, especially for other plastic packaging types than bottles. Improvement in industrial sorting on packaging and flakes. Innovation in recycling processes. Need for new end-use applications for recycled plastics. Focus on design for recycling and recycle content. More energy recovery : Recycling restrictions for certain types of plastic packaging. Further developments in Energy-from-Waste (including RDF).
From push to pull strategy... There is great potential to significantly improve plastic recycling efficiency by encouraging innovation and introducing more effective processes and technologies.
Contact An Vossen Manager PLAREBEL Diamant Building Boulevard A. Reyerslaan 80 1030 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 2 239 97 81 Fax: +32 2 238 99 98 Mail: info@plarebel.be