The recycling and recovery of Polyolefins waste
in Europe
Identiplast, Madrid, 03 October 2011
Sylvain Lhôte, Borealis Group
European Polyolefins Industry
• European plastics / polyolefins demand and market segments (2009)
45 MT
European Plastics Demand by Resin and Market Segments – 2009 (PlasticsEurope PEMRG)
2
The challenges
•
•
•
•
Polyolefins are recyclable materials
Some iconic recovery or recycling practices
Large volumes available for collection
Strong demand for quality recyclates...
____________
• Many applications are still seen as nonrecyclable...
• ...or are barred from “quotas driven”
recycling schemes
• Industry has limited data-based analysis of
recycling and recovery in Europe
3
The questions
• What are the recycling and recovery rates of
rigid PO applications at end of life?
• What factors drive different recovery
performances of rigid PO waste?
• How does PO recovery performance fit in a
“zero landfill waste” management vision?
4
The study
• A first comprehensive assessment of rigid PO recovery and recycling in
Europe commissioned by PlasticsEurope PO Group to Consultic
• 5 countries analysed in detail for year 2009  EU 27+2 extrapolation
France
Germany
Poland
Spain
UK
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech R.,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece,
Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Sweden, Switzerland
• Focus on rigid PE (all types) and PP in 4 market segments:
•
•
•
•
Bottles,
Other Rigid Packaging,
Automotive (ELV),
Appliances (WEEE)
5
The big picture
4.7 MT of rigid PO waste, 57% recovery
rigid PP waste
6
The national pictures
Is zero landfill within reach?
Treatment of rigid PO Waste - 2009 by countries
France
139
Germany
191
270
231
Poland
17
Spain
475
63
52
204
39
259
50
 UK seconds with ~29%, due to
the high volumes of HDPEbottle collection and recycling.
 Poland has the lowest
recycling ratio of <10%, as the
recycling of plastic packaging
is mainly based on PET bottles
and PE film.
175
132
UK
 Germany is the country with
the highest recycling ratio of
rigid PE and PP waste: ~32%.
448
Recycling
EU 27 +2
1.092
1.600
1.974
Energy Recovery
Disposal
0%
7
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
PE waste treatment
Recycling and recovery on par
Treatment of rigid PE Waste - 2009 by countries
France
115
Germany
71
117
100
Poland
11
Spain
 UK has the highest recycling
ratio: ~48% due to high
collection of HDPE milkbottles from the households.
236
32
30
 France seconds the UK with
a ratio of ~38%.
 Again Poland has the lowest
recycling ratio of rigid PE of
<10%.
86
78
UK
19
145
181
26
160
Recycling
EU 27 +2
755
780
864
Energy Recovery
Disposal
0%
8
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
PP waste treatment
Effective collection unlocks recovery potential
Treatment of rigid PP Waste 2009 by countries
France
24
120
Germany
153
131
Poland
6
Spain
31
22
UK
240
 Automotive (battery cases
and bumpers) plays a
relevant role in rigid PPrecycling in Germany.
89
54
24
20
 All the other countries are
below 13 %.
115
24
 Germany shows highest
recycling ratio of rigid PP:
~33%, a result of the dry
bin collection system for
packaging waste
288
Recycling
EU 27 +2
337
820
1.110
Energy Recovery
Disposal
0%
9
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
What drives high recovery rates?
Treatment of rigid PP-bottle waste...
France
10
Germany
4
2
4
Spain
4
UK
EU 27 +2
24
1
Germany
8
Poland
3
3
France 4
8
20
Poland
... and other rigid PP-packaging waste
8
3
67
UK
65
177
3
26
9
6
3
49
48
74
18
217
Recycling
EU 27 +2 Energy
166
Recovery
55
74
75
Spain
10
112
R
672
691
E
Disposal
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
0%
10%
D
20%
30%
40%
Recycling
50%
60%
70%
Recovery
80%
90%
100%
Landfll
10
What drives high recovery rates?
• Some PO fractions are already rather well recycled
•
•
•
•
Up to >70% for PE bottles in UK, >50% of DE automotive PP waste
With good quality products (e.g. food contact approved HDPE)
Packaging non-bottles (PE & PP) is rather low: 11 – 13% only
WEEE is very low, except in the UK
• Recovery and recycling rates are heavily conditioned by:
•
•
•
•
The development of more effective collection schemes (FR pilot)
Landfill ban or restriction (DE)
Energy recovery capacities
National / markets specificities
• Milk bottles in the UK
• Automotive in DE, ES
11
Our conclusions (1/2)
• 55-60% of rigid PO waste were recovered in 2009 making a key
contribution to plastics recycling and recovery in Europe.
• >1 MT of rigid PO was recycled in Europe in 2009 with clear potential
to increase recycling exist in many countries
• As seen in DE, CH, SW, or AT, a “zero landfill” aspiration is
possible with combination of recycling and energy recovery
• Demand for quality recycled PP & PE can support a step change in
sorting techniques and investments – retailers can exert a strong pull
12
Our conclusions (2/2)
• A supportive regulatory frame is necessary to maximise PO waste
recovery in Europe.
• Such framework should focus on
•
•
•
•
Restricting (cheap) landfilling
Extending collection to non-bottles rigid packaging
Enhancing and simplifying collection (all “dry” waste in one bin?)
Improving rapid identification techniques and sorting schemes (from
mixed waste)
• Addressing with EFSA requirements for streamlined food-contact
approval for recycled polymers
13