WASTE PLASTICS RECYCLING A GOOD PRACTICES GUIDE

BY AND FOR LOCAL & REGIONAL AUTHORITIES

These same polymers not only account for the largest proportion of plastics consumed and
therefore are the most commonly recycled, but are also those polymers for which there is a market
demand for secondary materials.
Around 70 per cent of waste plastics disposed of through households is packaging. This can be
categorised into rigid plastics such as bottles and films, and flexible plastics such as bags and
wrappings. The range of packaging plastics in household and municipal waste available is considerable,
but not all are suitable, available in sufficient quantities (weight) or feasible for collection and
recycling, although this is dependant on the method of recycling employed.
Plastics used to package oils, solvents and garden products may be unsuitable for recycling due to
the difficulties associated with the removal of trace product compounds on waste processing;
so may alcoholic beverage bottles due to the multi-layered natural of the materials that are
typically used to enhance the packaging performance of the containers. Other considerations such
as waste plastics colour and odour may impact on the cost of the baled product, whilst collection
costs of films (due weight/ volume issues), as well as issues of cleanliness, restrict the attractiveness
of film collections from dirty household sources.
However, examples show that it is possible to isolate particular homogeneous, clean flows, which
are suitable for recycling and many of these focus on plastic bottles. In the UK, 90 per cent of
plastic bottles are made from one of three polymers; PET, HDPE and PVC. The proportion of these
polymers and their relative colours in the bottle fraction of household waste does vary between countries.
Table 14: Proportion of the Bottle Fraction (per cent)
Polymer type & colour
Italy
UK
PET, of which:

77

44

Clear

40

44

Light blue

19

18

HDPE

Other

22.5

50

PVC

1.5

Source: TNO (2000)36

PET (used to package carbonated drinks) and HDPE (used for milk, detergents, toiletries) are the
most recyclable fractions. Mono-material, single coloured waste plastics reach the highest market
price, and inclusions such as PP caps, unsorted coloured material and highly perfumed plastics
impact on processing, associated costs and value of the material.
Barriers to recycling
The barriers facing plastic recycling from waste arising within the household waste stream are:
High dispersion of material
Potentially heavy contamination
Polymer colours and end markets
Prohibitions on closed loop recycling

36- " Best Practices for the Mechanical Recycling of Post-user Plastics : Appendices Report " TNO-report (2000) for APME

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WASTE PLASTICS RECYCLING A GOOD PRACTICES GUIDE

BY AND FOR LOCAL & REGIONAL AUTHORITIES

Plastic bottles are the main products that are targeted for recycling from the waste stream, for
reasons that have previously been mentioned. Despite the high dispersion of material, successful
recycling schemes have been established, although the cost of collecting these materials is often
quoted as being the main barrier towards bottle recycling. Films are typically disregarded because
of the high levels of contamination that are associated with these materials, and the low weight to
volume ratio, compared to bottles.
PET has experienced limitations in the amounts of material recycled due to a lack of supply,
coupled with saturation of current markets. New markets need to be developed in order to sustain
the potential amounts of material available for collection. 90 per cent of PET is used to manufacture
packaging products and the vast majority of this is associated with food, yet closed-loop recycling
(the manufacture of post-use plastic bottles back into plastic bottles) is restricted in many
countries. Additional barriers also concern the colour of PET; consumer and market trends have
increased the penetration of coloured PET onto the market and yet there is no market for coloured
PET bottles (with the exception of blue).
Colour is also an issue for HDPE recycling, which restricts the market outlets for the material, as is
contamination by PP caps and lids, however, improvements in current sorting technologies will
reduce the impact of these on the recyclate produced.

Distribution and retail sector

Commercial sector, small industries and businesses:
The waste plastics generated by the commercial sector, small industries and businesses produce is
largely packaging waste. The most common waste plastics generated by these sectors are:
stretch films
drums and containers
large bags
pallets
crates
EPS
Unlike packaging collected in household waste, of which around 85 per cent is disposed of in the
same year in which was manufactured, a greater percentage of plastic packaging associated with
distribution activities, such as crates, pallets and drums is designed for re-use and held in longerterm applications. As a result proportionately less plastic is available for collection per annum.
The figures below from Taylor Nelson Sofres37 concern collectable packaging waste from supermarkets,
large shops, industries, and also agriculture, building and construction. Figures for non-packaging
also relate to the collectable waste plastics fraction. Non-packaging waste includes, amongst
others, insulation films, protection covers etc. These are medium to long applications, whilst
packaging is typically much shorter.

37- Information System on Plastic Waste Management in Europe European Overview 2000 Data Taylor Nelson Sofres for APME March 2002.

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