ASR plastics ‘an opportunity’ but also a challenge

Czech Republic – Plastics in automotive shredder residue (ASR) represent ‘a tremendous opportunity that requires further investigation and collaboration, it was argued at the recent BIR recycling convention by the world body’s plastics committee chairman Surendra Borad Patawari of Belgium-based Gemini Corporation NV.

Plastics constitute between 9% and 15% of a vehicle’s total weight but this figure is expected to reach 18% as early as the year 2020, he told the recent BIR plastics committee meeting in Prague. The situation called for ‘transfer of knowledge’ so that dismantlers and recyclers knew what plastics had been used and their location within the vehicle. Borad also said he would seek and encourage interaction with the shredder committees of both BIR and the US Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.

The meeting in Prague also featured a guest presentation from Manuel Burnand, director of environment and development at Derichebourg in France and the new chairman of the BIR shredder committee, succeeding Jens Hempel-Hansen of Denmark. Sorting of plastics from ASR remained ‘technically difficult’ and ‘may be limited to some easily sortable grades unless new technologies come on the market’, Burnand stated.

Recycling International will include full coverage of the BIR event in its upcoming November issue.