Plastics recycling on the march in Europe

Archiv – There was a significant increase in European plastics recycling between 2000 and 2002, according to APME in its latest report.There was a significant increase in European plastics recycling between 2000 and 2002, according to APME in its latest report.
In concert with a number of partners, the organisation representing the European plastics industry has been actively looking to extend understanding and to facilitate recovery techniques to help meet targets established in the European Directives on Packaging and Packaging Waste, End-of-life Vehicles, and Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
The years 2001 and 2002 were challenging for the industry due to continuing consolidation and the global economic downturn which took its toll on all key market sectors. However, Western European plastics consumption totalled 38.1 million tonnes in 2002 – a rise of 6% on 2000. This increase continues a trend that has been evident for many years and is seen as a clear indication of the continuing popularity of plastics as a material.
End-of-life plastics recovery rose by almost 11% between 2000 and 2002, with almost 7.7 million tonnes of plastics waste being given a second life through material recycling and energy recovery in 2002. This compares to just under 7 million tonnes in 2000.
Between 2000 and 2002, total plastics consumption – including virgin polymers and recycled granulate – rose by 6%. The main growth occurred in 2002 (+4.1%) compared to 2% growth in the previous year. Per capita consumption of virgin plastics in Western Europe rose to 91 kg in 2001 and increased further to 94.8 kg in 2002.
Some 38% of total collectable plastics waste was recovered last year – up from 36% in 2000 and an increase of 11% in tonnage terms. Mechanical recycling of plastics waste, which jumped 22.5% in tonnage terms between 2000 and 2002, represents the second largest recovery route after energy recovery with 13.3% of total collectable plastics waste recovered this way. This growth was due to a substantial increase in packaging recycling, while recycling of other types of plastics waste remained relatively flat.
Energy was recovered from 4.7 million tonnes of plastics waste in 2002, an increase of 6.3% over the year 2000 and equivalent to 23% of total collectable plastics waste recovery.