16 Feb 2023 --- Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) and Reloop have published a new study by Eunomia Research and Consulting today which shows that applying sorting systems to mixed waste (MWS) before thermal treatment and landfilling can contribute to the EU’s climate objectives and boost plastic and municipal waste recycling targets. “MWS is using technology to extract valuable materials from the mixed (residual) waste stream prior to incineration or landfilling. These include materials not currently targeted by separate collection, such as non-packaging plastics which are not covered by EPR schemes, but also materials which should be collected separately but may erroneously be delivered with residual waste,” Janek Vähk, ZWE climate, energy and air pollution programme coordinator, tells PackagingInsights. The study, which examined the role MWS could play in three EU countries with high recycling performance – Germany, Belgium and Sweden – concluded that, in addition to separate collection and improved recyclability of plastic packaging, a full roll-out of effective MWS is necessary to ensure that recycling targets are consistently met and progress toward the EU’s wider carbon emissions reduction goals.
