Challenges in plastics recycling

Kostyantyn Pivnenko, L. G. Jakobsen, Marie Kampmann Eriksen, Anders Damgaard, Thomas Fruergaard Astrup

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    Abstract

    Recycling of waste plastics still remains a challenging area in the waste management sector. The current and potential goals proposed on EU or regional levels are difficult to achieve, and even to partially fullfil them the improvements in collection and sorting should be considerable. A study was undertaken to investigate the factors affecting quality in plastics recycling. The preliminary results showed factors primarily influencing quality of plastics recycling to be polymer cross contamination, presence of additives, non-polymer impurities, and polymer degradation. Deprivation of plastics quality, with respect to recycling, has been shown to happen throughout the plastics value chain, but steps where improvements may happen have been preliminary identified. Example of Cr in plastic samples analysed showed potential spreading and accumulation of chemicals ending up in the waste plastics. In order to assure a functional recycling scheme and maintain consumer and market acceptance of recycled plastics, transparency in data on quality of plastics and better monitoring should be induced.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings Sardinia 2015 : Fifteenth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium
    EditorsS. Margherita di Pula
    Number of pages7
    Place of PublicationCagliari, Italy
    PublisherCISA Publisher
    Publication date2015
    Publication statusPublished - 2015
    EventSardinia 2015 - 15th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium - Cagliari, Italy
    Duration: 5 Oct 20159 Oct 2015
    Conference number: 15

    Conference

    ConferenceSardinia 2015 - 15th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium
    Number15
    Country/TerritoryItaly
    CityCagliari
    Period05/10/201509/10/2015

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