Methodology to quantify single-use plastic products in municipal solid waste Part 2: Quantification of tobacco products with filters in Germany.

Discharge from unrestricted tobacco products with filters (TPF) causes environmental damage. To reduce TPF litter quantities, Directive (EU) 2019/904 requires TPF producers to proportionally contribute to the costs of discarding their products in public waste collection systems, including litter waste ones. An appropriate output-based cost model requires assessing TPF quantities in relevant waste streams.

Methodology to quantify single-use plastic products in municipal solid waste Part 1: Development of a sampling methodology.

In recent years, the consumption of plastic products intended for single use has increased. Directive (EU) 2019/904 aims to reduce the use and the resulting generated waste quantity of single-use plastic (SUP) products. Therefore, manufacturers of SUP products are required to contribute proportionately to the costs of disposing of their products in public collection systems, including litter waste.

Influences of bioplastic polylactic acid on near-infrared-based sorting of conventional plastic.

Bioplastics are developed to replace oil-derived plastics due to the high consumption of oil and related environmental impacts of oil-derived plastics. It was predicted that bioplastics can potentially replace 94% of conventional plastic production. With their increasing market share, more bioplastics will end in conventional post-consumer plastic waste streams.

Characterization of pyrolysis products of high-ash excavated-waste and its char gasification reactivity and kinetics under a steam atmosphere.

The focus of this study is the pyrolysis and gasification of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and fine fractions recovered from the excavation of landfill waste, with an emphasize on the characterization of the reactivity and kinetics of the char-steam gasification. The results from the pyrolysis tests demonstrated that CO and CO are the main produced gases during the pyrolysis of the finer fraction of landfill waste. This might be caused by the accumulation of degraded organic materials.

Improvement of the recycling of plastics in lightweight packaging treatment plants by a process control concept.

In Germany, only approximately 30% by mass of plastics from lightweight packaging waste is recycled; 65% by mass is transferred to inferior residual fractions (sorting residue and mixed plastics), which are currently only utilized thermally. An increase in the recycling of valuable resources in the sense of material recycling would both contribute to the saving of resources and improve the economic situation of plant operators. It is generally known from operating and planning experience that fluctuation in the amount of material loaded into the sorting process is one of the main reasons for suboptimal recycling quotas.

A methodical approach for the assessment of waste sorting plants.

A techno-economical evaluation of the processing result of waste sorting plants should at least provide a realistic assessment of the recovery yields of valuable materials and of the qualities of the obtained products. This practical data is generated by weighing all the output products and sampling these products. Due to the technological complexity of sorting plants, for example, lightweight packaging waste treatments plants and the high expenditures concerning time and costs of sampling with subsequent manual sorting for quality determination, usually only final products undergo such an investigation.

Separate collection of plastic waste, better than technical sorting from municipal solid waste?

The politically preferred solution to fulfil legal recycling demands is often implementing separate collection systems. However, experience shows their limitations, particularly in urban centres with a high population density. In response to the European Union landfill directive, mechanical biological waste treatment plants have been installed all over Europe.

Central sorting and recovery of MSW recyclable materials: A review of technological state-of-the-art, cases, practice and implications for materials recycling.

Today's waste regulation in the EU comprises stringent material recovery targets and calls for comprehensive programs in order to achieve them. A similar movement is seen in the US where more and more states and communities commit to high diversion rates from landfills. The present paper reviews scientific literature, case studies and results from pilot projects, on the topic of central sorting of recyclable materials commonly found in waste from households.