TY - JOUR

T1 - Grain size dependent distribution of different plastic types in coarse shredded mixed commercial and municipal waste

AU - Möllnitz, Selina

AU - Khodier, Karim

AU - Pomberger, Roland

AU - Sarc, Renato

PY - 2020/1/11

Y1 - 2020/1/11

N2 - The Waste Framework Directive regulates the recycling of waste in Europe. The definition of waste isspecified in different guidelines and regulations. Mixed Commercial Waste is waste from industry whichis not collected separately. Currently there is little known about its composition. Mixed Municipal Waste,on the other hand, is household waste that cannot be attributed to any separately collected waste fraction (AdSLR, 2012). Both wastes are currently treated focussing on the generation of refuse-derived fuel rather than on the separation of recyclables (mainly performed for metals).The purpose of this paper is to characterise the amounts of various plastic types contained in different grain sizes of two-dimensional and three-dimensional plastics sorting fractions of both waste types. Nine types of plastics were identified as potential recycling materials for which recycling processes as well as a market are available. Both wastes were shredded, sampled and sieved into nine grain size classes (GSC). Fractions coarser than 20 mm were sorted, generating a ‘plastics-2D’ and a ‘plastics-3D’ fraction among others. The two plastics fractions were further characterised as plastic types using a near-infrared sensor and a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer. The results reveal a potential for plastic recycling through mechanical and feedstock recycling options for the examined wastes. Certain types of plastics, of certaindimensionality, tend to come in certain grain sizes, which is essential for mechanical enrichment and discharge.

AB - The Waste Framework Directive regulates the recycling of waste in Europe. The definition of waste isspecified in different guidelines and regulations. Mixed Commercial Waste is waste from industry whichis not collected separately. Currently there is little known about its composition. Mixed Municipal Waste,on the other hand, is household waste that cannot be attributed to any separately collected waste fraction (AdSLR, 2012). Both wastes are currently treated focussing on the generation of refuse-derived fuel rather than on the separation of recyclables (mainly performed for metals).The purpose of this paper is to characterise the amounts of various plastic types contained in different grain sizes of two-dimensional and three-dimensional plastics sorting fractions of both waste types. Nine types of plastics were identified as potential recycling materials for which recycling processes as well as a market are available. Both wastes were shredded, sampled and sieved into nine grain size classes (GSC). Fractions coarser than 20 mm were sorted, generating a ‘plastics-2D’ and a ‘plastics-3D’ fraction among others. The two plastics fractions were further characterised as plastic types using a near-infrared sensor and a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer. The results reveal a potential for plastic recycling through mechanical and feedstock recycling options for the examined wastes. Certain types of plastics, of certaindimensionality, tend to come in certain grain sizes, which is essential for mechanical enrichment and discharge.

KW - Mixed Commercial Waste

KW - mixed municipal waste

KW - Circular Economy

KW - Polymer recycling

KW - Polymer type distribution

KW - 2D Plastics

KW - 3D Plastics

U2 - 10.1016/j.wasman.2019.12.037

DO - 10.1016/j.wasman.2019.12.037

M3 - Article

VL - 103.2020

SP - 388

EP - 398

JO - Waste management

JF - Waste management

SN - 0956-053X

IS - 15 February

ER -