P.b.b. anPostfach 100,1350Wien 45,1200Wien,Retouren Straße 02Z030115 M,WEKAIndustrieMedienGmbH,Dresdner Euro 12,– Official Publication of: Page 22 A Very OldCompany With Very New Ideas STADLER’s Delabeller TALKING IN CIRCLES IN WALK THE WALK CIRCULAR ECONOMY CIRCULAR BUT BUT IT'S TIME IT'S

Sweden’s Due Diligencefor100,000Year Storage Going Nuclear Page 40 ON THE THE ON TO TO JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 Special Edition

FROM THE EDITOR

NEW YEAR NEW DECADE New Climate Records Just Waiting to Be Set…

o what’s my New Year’s resolution? To stop being frustrated by climate change deniers. I met a particularly evangelical one in the pub over Christmas. He was clearly an expert on the matter be- Scause he made his argument with such conviction. He seemed dead set on the notion that the brief pause in temperature rises from 1998 to 2012 meant that it was all a conspiracy. If more proof were needed then just look at the way it bounces up and down from one year to the next in a state of constant flux. PROOF! It’s all just hocus pocus dreamt up by…. err… yeah. He got stuck on that one, but NASA was mentioned. When I was a kid there was far less consensus on the topic both from sci- entists and the public. It was certainly a viable theory. There was definitely such a thing as the greenhouse effect, but could man possibly influence something as massive as a planet’s atmospheric conditions? It seemed to be widely thought that yes we could, but it was 200 years since the industrial revolution and it really didn’t seem to have had much Ben Messenger Chief Editor impact yet. Surely we had a century or so to sort ourselves out and come up with a solar-powered perpetual motion machine and we’d be all good. But in the three decades or so since then, mankind has dumped more “BUT YOU CAN’T carbon into the atmosphere than in the whole of preceding human history. Maybe that century or so to sort ourselves out was wishful thinking? Take a ARGUE WITH look at the graph. The rate of heating certainly looks to my untrained eye to THESE PEOPLE. be accelerating – perhaps in line with the pace at which we pump GHGs into YOU CAN SHOW the atmosphere? But you can’t argue with these people. You can show them graphs and THEM GRAPHS they’ll tell you they’re fake. You can tell them that six of the hottest 10 years AND THEY’LL on record happened in the past decade, but it means nothing. You can show them the heartbreaking news reports of Australia literally burning out of TELL YOU control. Based on absolutely no evidence whatsoever, they hint that it was THEY’RE FAKE. teenage arsonists – a fire the size of England! YOU CAN TELL So I’m just not going to get frustrated by them anymore. I’ll just accept that some people are completely delusional. Like flat earthers – and they’re THEM THAT SIX just funny. OF THE HOTTEST But then you realise how many of them are actually in power, and how much financial backing there is keeping them there, and it’s hard to see the 10 YEARS funny side of that. ON RECORD Oh well. Fingers crossed. Rant over. HAPPENED On page 8 you’ll find coverage of a report explaining just how far we are from having a global circular economy, and what we may be able to do about IN THE PAST it. On page 26 we look at the difficulties of recycling plastics from WEEE and DECADE, BUT on page 36 we look at a distributed hydrogen from project. IT MEANS Enjoy the issue. NOTHING.” Ben Messenger, Chief Editor

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WORLD 3 JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 CONTENTS VOLUME 21, ISSUE 1

CONTRIBUTORS

Cover Story 100 BILLION TONNES & RISING “We must tell South Korea The global annual consumption of materials has and other countries to deal hit 100 billion tonnes per year; at the same time, with their own at the total reuse of materials has fallen to 8.6%. home and stop exporting We need to act faster. them to the Philippines and Page 8 other Asian countries.” Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste Coalition Page 16

“Bottles make up a large proportion of plastic waste, and they present a particular issue to the recycling industry.” Rok Mežič, Head of R&D Slovenia, STADLER Page 22

“Not only will this help STADLER Peels Back Recycling Plastics from tackle the problem of the Labels WEEE – Costly & Complex waste plastics, it will provide a local source of STADLER has launched a new At the recent conference in London hydrogen which could efficient bottle delabelling industry leaders explained what the be used as a clean and machine to complement its industry is doing to improve plastic low-cost fuel for buses.” range of equipment for MRFs. recycling from WEEE. Myles Kitcher, Peel Environmental Page 22 Page 26 Page 36

4 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 Recycling Special Edition 32 Circulate – Circular Micro-Economies COMPANIES INDEX in Australia In New South Wales the Circulate project 8 It is Time to Act on the Circular ACI 2 Economy has been awarding grants to organisations Alupro 20 A new report published at the World Eco- able to create industrial synergies for exist- nomic Forum warns that not one of the ing waste streams. Applied Industrial Systems 41 world’s 195 countries is meeting the basic . Association of Plastic Recyclers 19 needs of its citizens while operating within the physical boundaries of the planet, Waste to Energy Bollegraaf 13 and looks at where we go from here. Brightmark Energy 21 36 PowerHouse Energy Takes 22 STADLER Puts its Touch Bunting Group 19 to Delabelling Distributed Hydrogen Forward After two years of R&D, German recycling In the two years since we last covered the Cesaro Mac 25, 35 company, PowerHouse Energy has made equipment manufacturer STADLER has Circle Economy 9 launched its label-removing machine to solid progress with its plans to roll out a boost purity and efficiency at PET bottle network of distributed waste to hydrogen CityLoops 30 facilities. recycling plants. CNIM 18 26 Complex, Costly and Far Crain 15 from Perfect In the face of missed targets and dif- Cross Connections 32 ficulties with exports, the recent RINA 40 Ensuring a Nuclear Waste Site is Safe EcoWaste Coalition 16 Electrical and Electronic Equipment and on Geological Timescales the Environment conference in London Ellen MacArthur Foundation 9 An AIS SCADA system is being used in saw much discussion of how to better Sweden as part of SKB’s 30-plus year due Energy from Waste Conference 37 recycle plastics from WEEE. diligence on its potential nuclear waste Hitachi Zosen Inova 18 30 CityLoops disposal sites. Seven small to medium-sized European ICIS 50 cities are to participate in the EU-funded Interstate Waste Services 20 CityLoops project to create a circular Collection & Handling Lhoist 52 economy for C&D and organic wastes. 44 Organic Collections Near Full Local Governments for Sustainability 11 Coverage in Madrid McKinsey & Company 9 Chief Editor As it bids to hit the 50% recycling target, Newtecpoly 32 Ben Messenger Madrid has continued its phased organic Email: [email protected] programme. Since Decem- PowerHouse Energy 36 Mobile: +44 7917 566259 ber last year, the scheme has covered the PTF HAEUSSER GMBH 17 International Advertising Manager whole city except the Centro district. Terry Ash RUNI 33 Email: [email protected] SKB 41 Office: +44 (0)20 3667 3715 Mobile: +44 (0)7956 491159 SSE 18 Publisher STADLER 22 WEKA Industrie Medien GmbH Hans F. Zangerl, General Manager SUS Environment 39 Email: [email protected] SWANA 19 Dresdner Straße 43, 1200 Vienna, Austria www.industriemedien.at REGULARS UNTHA 29, 35 Art Director: Nicole Fleck Graphic Design: Johanna Kellermayr 3 Editor’s Letter Vecolplan 11, 34 Advertising 5 Index to Companies Waste2Tricity 36 Editorial/News Contact: 6 ISWA Comment WEEE Forum 21 [email protected] 16 Letter From: The Philippines Editorial Correspondence/Press Releases: Wheelabrator 18 Please send to Waste Management World at 18 News [email protected] 48 ISWA Information World Business Council for Sustainable www.wmw.news 50 Country Focus: China Development 10

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 5 ISWA COMMENT

AN INTRODUCTION FROM ISWA’S NEW MD…

DEAR ISWA COLLEAGUES AND WMW READERS,

It is an honour to introduce myself to you as ISWA’s new Managing Director as of January 2020. I join at a very exciting point in ISWA’s history. But first, I would like to begin by thanking MA48 (the City of Vienna) for hosting and supporting ISWA over the previous ten years. And my further gratitude to outgoing MD Arne Ragossnig, who so diligently steered ISWA over the last two years. But what about the next ten years? Earlier this month in Rotterdam, the Netherlands it was a pleasure to formally open the new ISWA head- quarters alongside ISWA President Antonis Mavropoulos and the Mayor of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaleb. Our new headquarters, in the heart of Europe’s largest port, will provide the perfect base for ISWA to achieve its global mission. Marc Tijhuis I have no doubt that the City of Rotterdam, which shares ISWA’s vision ISWA Managing Director of achieving a circular economy, will see ISWA grow and prosper as we work alongside the Municipality (Gemeente Rotterdam) and our National Member in the Netherlands – NVRD. I, along with the board and support of the GS, have bold and ambitious goals over the next ten years to ensure that ISWA makes a positive contri- bution to ensure that basic, sustainable waste management is extended to more and more people around the world. One step towards realising this will be with the formalisation of regional chapters to allow a more local approach to waste management problems “EARLIER THIS around the world, carrying out activities and developing programmes that focus on each region’s specific needs and challenges. This will give more au- MONTH IN tonomy to our National Members, allowing us to better address the needs ROTTERDAM, THE of our broad range of stakeholders, particularly in areas where professional NETHERLANDS IT and sustainable waste management is so urgently lacking. This is one of many platforms through which ISWA intends to ensure WAS A PLEASURE TO that waste management becomes a priority for emerging economies and FORMALLY OPEN that they get the knowledge and support required to climb the waste hierar- chy. Ongoing programmes, focusing on a range of topics including marine THE NEW ISWA , closing dumpsites and Industry 4.0, will continue to shape the conver- HEADQUARTERS sations around waste and resource management. ALONGSIDE ISWA I would like to conclude by inviting all WMW readers and ISWA Members to the ISWA 2020 World Congress in Rotterdam on 28-30 September to cel- PRESIDENT ANTONIS ebrate ISWA’s 50th birthday. See you there! MAVROPOULOS AND THE MAYOR OF Yours sincerely, ROTTERDAM AHMED Marc Tijhuis ABOUTALEB.” ISWA Managing Director

6 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

HOSTED BY A SHARED MISSION WITH TAKING PLACE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SULTANATE OF OMAN, THE INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY RESOURCES & TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE (ISRTC 2020) , A SHARED MISSION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATION (ISWA) AND THE GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION CONFERENCES SERIES (G-STIC). THIS CONFERENCE AIMS TO ACCELERATE THE DEPLOYMENT OF CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS, LEADING TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE +968 2439 8760 [email protected] SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND THE Follow us @ISRTConference TRANSITION TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY.

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 7 COVER STORY

100 BILLION TONNES & RISING IT REALLY IS TIME TO ACT ON THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

8 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 COVER STORY

The global annual consumption of materials has hit 100 billion tonnes per year; at the same time, the total reuse of materials has fallen to 8.6%. Published on 21 January at the World Economic Forum, a new report warns that not one of the world’s 195 countries is meeting the basic needs of its citizens while operating within the physical boundaries of the planet, and looks at where we go from here.

By Ben Messenger

ver recent years the an- which data is available. At the same time, nual meeting of the circularity fell to 8.6% – of all the minerals, World Economic Forum fossil fuels, metals and biomass that enter O(WEF) has been a rallying point for seri- the economy each year, as a proportion of ous calls for a global move to a circular consumption, just 8.6% are reused. While economy, perhaps most notable among this does mean that the total quantity of them the 2014 ‘Towards the Circular materials that are being reused has grown Economy: Accelerating the scale-up by 3%, from 8.4 to 8.65 billion tonnes, it is across global supply chains’ report pre- clearly not growing fast enough. pared in collaboration with the Ellen “We risk global disaster if we continue MacArthur Foundation and McKinsey & to treat the world’s resources as if they are Company. limitless,” warns Circle Economy’s CEO, As the years pass the warnings become Harald Friedl. “Governments must ur- starker, the breadth of action required gently adopt circular economy solutions greater, and the consequences of failure if we want to achieve a high quality of life ever closer. In January 2018, impact or- for close to 10 billion people by mid-cen- ganisation Circle Economy, which works tury without destabilising critical plane- alongside businesses, cities and govern- tary processes.” ments to identify and act on opportuni- ties to make the transition to a circular THE PROBLEM economy, published its first Circularity Global use of materials has nearly quadru- Gap Report. pled in 50 years, from 26.7 billion tonnes That first report established that the in 1970 to over 100 billion by 2017. This world’s economy is only 9.1% circular, is forecast to rise to between 170 and 184 leaving a massive circularity gap. It also billion tonnes by 2050. There are three provided a framework and fact-base to underlying reasons for this negative measure and monitor progress in bridg- trend, all hardwired into the dominant ing the global circularity gap. In January “take-make-waste” economic model: 2019 the second edition of the Circularity • We rely on extracting virgin materials Gap Report was launched, reiterating to fuel growth rather than making bet- that the global economy is stuck in re- ter use of existing resources. For every verse and failing people and the planet. tonne of resources that is reused, more This year, the latest report finds that than 10 are extracted. total resources entering the global econ- • We are adding more materials to meet omy increased by 8.4% in just two years the needs of a growing global popula- from 92.8 billion tonnes in 2015 to 100.6 tion, building up our stock of housing, billion tonnes in 2017, the latest year for infrastructure and heavy machinery.

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 9 COVER STORY

Nearly half the materials that enter the identifies different strategies for different FACTS economy are used in these long-term countries based on the living standards products. of their population and their ecological • Most products are not designed to be footprint. 100 BILLION reused and there are limited facilities The report highlights positive trends The global economy is consuming for reprocessing materials at the end and circular solutions already being 100 billion tonnes of materials a of their life. Global recycling rates are adopted around the world: year for the first time ever. improving and delivering higher qual- • 13 European countries have adopted ity materials, but this is far from suffi- national circular roadmaps and in cient to feed our hungry economy. 2019 Colombia became the first Latin 8.6% American country to launch a similar MATERIAL REUSE THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENTS policy. Reuse of resources has gone into reverse, as the world’s economy is Circle Economy posits that countries are • China’s ban on waste imports aims to now just 8.6% circular, falling from particularly well positioned to tackle the encourage domestic recycling, but it 9.1% in the last two years. widening circularity gap, and calls on has also stimulated the development them to establish national roadmaps for of circular economy strategies in many 8.4% circularity. It says these can make their other countries which previously ex- The total amount of resources economies more competitive, improve ported their waste there. entering the global economy has living conditions and help to meet emis- • Cities, communities and entrepreneurs increased by 8.4% in just two years. sions targets and avoid deforestation. It are developing bottom-up solutions all

WHAT “BUSINESS AS USUAL IS DEAD. THEY WE MUST COMMIT TO TAKING ACTION AT SCALE TO MAKE THE SAID CIRCULAR ECONOMY REALITY. Measuring our individual and collective A number of major performance in the circular economy is fundamental in knowing whether we’re international businesses, decoupling resource consumption and charities and NGOs have financial performance at the rate which expressed their support our planet is demanding of us.”

for the report, including Peter Bakker the government of Chile, CEO of the World Business Council WWF, Philips and the UN for Sustainable Development Environment Programme International Resource Panel. Here’s what they had to say.

10 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 COVER STORY

“The circularity gap is widening, and with it, the climate and biodiversity impacts of our extractive 3-2-1 ... economies. To confront environmental challenges and deliver socio-economic benefits, WE MUST RETHINK HOW WE CONSUME L i f t - o • ! AND DISPOSE OF MATERIALS. This report offers essential metrics to track progress and underlines the key role played by cities and regions in bridging the gap.”

Gino Van Begin Secretary General of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

over the world, from land reclamation tainable.In order to deliver the infrastruc- supporting 2.5 million people in Niger, ture to provide public services, transport to a digital solution that empowers and housing while staying within the informal rubbish collectors in Brazil, planet’s ecological capacity, the authors and a modular phone with replaceable say that these countries should: Ready for parts in the Netherlands. • Design circularity into construction. In countries like India, where up to the infi nite THE WAY FORWARD 70% of the buildings needed in 2030 The report classifies countries into three are yet to be built, there is huge scope possibilities broad categories – Build, Grow and Shift to benefit from innovative construc- – depending on the living standards of tion techniques such as prefabricated of shredding their population and their ecological buildings and 3D printing, which can footprint, and identifies circular strate- make development fast, cheap and eco- Unlimited high-performance gies for each grouping. friendly. Plastics can be made into tiles shredding – enter a new Marc de Wit, lead author, explains: and cement can be recovered from con- dimension in shredding. For “This report shows that no country is crete . ecient, environmentally friendly meeting the basic needs of its citizens • Empower the informal economy. recycling of all kinds of plastics while also operating within the physical Recycling rates are high in build coun- there’s only one solution: the boundaries of our planet. We are all devel- tries because waste provides a valuable newly developed VIZ shredder oping countries, we all need to get to an source of revenue to informal workers. for plastic waste. ecologically safe and socially just future, There is scope to build on this by edu- but there are different pathways accord- cating workers about circular solutions ing to the type of challenges we face.” and providing them with the tools and www.vecoplan.com/k2019 BUILD COUNTRIES, such as India, frameworks to implement them. Vecoplan AG | Vor der Bitz 10 Nigeria and the Philippines, where large • Use digital technology to support new 56470 Bad Marienberg | Germany parts of society still lack the means to sat- business models. Some 240,000 small- Phone: +49 2661 62 67-0 isfy their basic needs, must build up eco- holder farmers in Africa and Asia have [email protected] | www.vecoplan.com nomic systems that are inclusive and sus- used text messages to rent tractors

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 11 COVER STORY

“The circular economy is a fundamental means of achieving sustainability and carbon neutrality. Yet to know if we’re getting there, we need to measure circularity. The series of Circularity Gap Reports have been illuminating, as they’re showing us the – distressing – tendency of the past years. THIS THIRD REPORT SPARKS AN ALARM FOR ALL GOVERNMENTS; we need to deploy all the array of policies to really catalyse this transformation.”

Carolina Schmidt Minister of the Environment in the government of Chile

through the Hello Tractor scheme. Education can help develop the entre- preneurs who will create new circular businesses and a workforce with the skills to fill them. “Circular economy is becoming • Build a sustainable bioeconomy. Waste a widely recognised and accepted from agriculture, forestry and fisheries concept. But to make it real, as can be recycled and used to feed new the report shows, will require industries. A programme in Niger has many efforts and also a system helped subsistence farmers reclaim de- change in our understanding graded land and increase crop produc- of the circular economy. tion by protecting and managing the WE NEED TO EMBRACE growth of trees, benefiting 2.5 million DEMATERIALISATION, people. GROW COUNTRIES, such as China, RETHINK THE OWNERSHIP Indonesia and Brazil, manufacture and CONCEPT AND MOVE FROM process a large share of the goods con- RESOURCE EFFICIENCY TO sumed by the rest of the world. Their rap- RESOURCE SUFFICIENCY.” idly growing middle class drives global growth in consumption – household dis- Janez Potočnik posable income in China has more than Former European Commissioner for the Environment doubled in the last 10 years. The report and Co-chair of the UN Environment Programme finds that to grow in a way that satisfies International Resource Panel societal needs within planetary bounda- ries, they should: • Foster smart consumption using new technology and design to increase material efficiency and introducing sharing business models. In Brazil, for instance, HP is building a zero-waste factory, promoting take-back schemes, and using reverse logistics to remanu-

12 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 COVER STORY

facture, reuse and recycle products. • Design in circularity at all levels. Long- “This report recognises the term infrastructure being built now critical role that countries play must be durable, adaptable and up- in closing the widening circularity gap, gradable. China has pioneered eco-in- and underlines the urgent need for close dustrial parks where the waste of one collaboration. Companies that have a business becomes the feedstock for an- global footprint also have a responsibility other. to embed circular thinking into their • Transform informal recycling. In business models and processes. WE Brazil a mobile phone app links resi- dents with informal waste collectors MUST JOIN FORCES TO ENABLE who sell recyclable materials to THE TRANSITION TO A CIRCULAR centres. In Ghana, where up to 10,000 ECONOMY.” people work in Accra’s Agbogbloshie Feike Sijbesma scrapyard dismantling everything CEO of DSM from toasters to aircraft, a programme offers them training to become design- ers and manufacturers so they can get greater value from their work. • Grow the capacity and grids for renew- able energy. This will help decarbonise economies and avoid leaving countries with costly fossil fuel-based stranded

www.bollegraaf.com • [email protected]

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 13 COVER STORY

“Our current economic and financial systems are driving unsustainable consumption and degrading the natural environment. The circular economy provides a tangible framework for reducing our impacts, protecting ecosystems and living within the means of one planet. COLLABORATING WITH BUSINESS AND CIVIL SOCIETY, GOVERNMENTS CAN PLAY AN INVALUABLE ROLE IN DELIVERING POSITIVE CHANGE BY IMPLEMENTING POLICIES THAT ENCOURAGE CIRCULARITY AND SYSTEMS CHANGE.” “DESPITE TWO YEARS OF CONCENTRATED EFFORTS Cristianne Close AND POCKETS OF SUCCESS, Leader at WWF Markets Practice CIRCULARITY’S GLOBAL IMPACT IS NOT BIG ENOUGH. This report

provides a clear roadmap for action. Countries, assets. China is leading the global cities and businesses can step up as change transition and has invested more than agents to accelerate circularity locally and US$758 billion in renewable energy in globally. But governments and businesses the last decade.

SHIFT COUNTRIES, such as member states of the EU, the USA and Japan, con- sume 10 times more resources per person than Build countries and produce very high volumes of waste. Much of their material consumption is imported, out- alike must engage in far-reaching, sourcing the environmental impacts to cross-border collaborations for Build and Grow countries. According to circular value chains and climate the report, these countries need to shift neutrality.” to consuming resources efficiently in line with the planet’s resources, decarbonising Frans van Houten their economies, and reducing soil and CEO of Royal Philips water pollution, and so they should: • Shift to smarter consumption by lead- ing the way on circular design, ex- tending product lifetimes and using fewer materials. In the Netherlands, Fairphone has developed a modu- lar phone using replaceable, ethically sourced parts. Ownership of goods is

14 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 “The transition to a global circular economy will continue requiring new data and metrics to enable public and private sector leaders to make the best decisions. This Circularity Gap Report is another step forward, providing leaders with data and insights on how to understand national-level circularity and possible ways to cluster, LEARN FROM SIMILARLY SITUATED COUNTRIES, AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE TRANSITIONS.”

David B. McGinty Global Director of the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE)

being replaced by sharing and service busi- ness models on everything from jeans to dishwashers – membership of car sharing 25-26 March 2020 RAI, Amsterdam schemes is growing globally at 65% a year. • Take responsibility for the impact of their imports and exports. Shared stand- ards for health, safety and the environ- ment should be applied across borders The Exhibition and Conference for the throughout the value chain, including European Plastics Recycling Industry waste processing. Innovative schemes use waste as a resource; for example, Interface is collecting used fishing nets in the Incorporating Philippines and using the waste nylon in its carpet tiles. • Drive the renewable energy transition by decarbonising their economies and creat- ing abundant renewable capacity, storage The Plastics Recycling Show Europe will take place at and smart grid systems. A transition to the Rai, Amsterdam on 25th-26th March 2020 100% renewable energy in the US would Register for your FREE ENTRY BADGE see a net increase of two million jobs, to the exhibition and conference at halve energy costs for consumers and save taxpayers US$600 billion in health- prseventeurope.com care costs and US$3.3 trillion in climate costs, according to Stanford University research.

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 15

PRSE Visitor Ad 88x122 Waste Management World.indd 1 20/01/2020 10:22 LETTER FROM

A LETTER FROM… THE PHILIPPINES In the Philippines, environmental health and justice advocates at EcoWatch have called for greater vigilance against waste imports as they celebrate the repatriation of the remaining illegal South Korean waste shipments.

By Rachel White

ollowing China’s National Simon and other public officials in cele- Sword policy, many countries brating the re-export of the 2400 tonnes inF Southeast Asia have been blocking of contaminated plastic waste. imports of ‘recycling’ materials. But with “This is good news for the people of waste piling up in countries of origin, Mindanao as we assert our unwilling- some have sought to exploit loopholes ness to be an entry point of hazardous by exporting mixed wastes as ‘recycling’. waste from overseas. The re-shipment In July 2018, a ship containing over of the South Korean waste to its source 6500 tonnes of materials described is a historic win for our people and the as “plastic synthetic flakes” docked at environment,” said Chinkie Peliño-Golle, The so-called plastic synthetic flakes a container terminal on the southern Executive Director, IDIS. “This is only a turned out to be a variety of mixed Philippine island of Mindanao. However, partial victory as the culprits behind this shredded waste containing hygiene upon closer inspection the material was toxic mess have yet to account for their products and organic matter, and are an example of why many are calling for a found to contain batteries, bulbs, used misdeeds.” ban on the export of all waste ‘products’ dextrose tubes, electronic equipment from developed to developing countries. and nappies, and was subsequently im- BACK THE BASEL AMENDMENT pounded. The advocates held prominent banners Following the agreement reached by saying, “Prohibit waste importation. Ratify the governments of the Philippines and the Basel Ban Amendment.” But why? South Korea in December 2018, some The Philippines, a state party to the 1400 tonnes of illegal waste shipments on the Control of were sent back to South Korea on 13 Transboundary Movements of Hazardous January 2019. Almost exactly one year Wastes and their Disposal, has yet to later, on 19 January this year, and locals ratify the Basel Ban Amendment. The celebrated as the first of two shipments of amendment, which entered into force the foreign waste was returned to sender. on 5 December 2019, prohibits member At the ceremony held at the Mindanao states of the Organisation for Economic International Container Terminal, repre- Cooperation and Development The protesters are campaigning for sentatives from the EcoWaste Coalition, (OECD), the European Union (EU) and an end to all waste imports into the Interfacing Development Interventions for Liechtenstein from exporting hazardous Philippines, which has been targeted by Sustainability (IDIS) and the Sustainable wastes to developing countries or coun- ‘mislabelled’ exports from many wealthy nations. They also argue for a reduction in Davao Movement (SDM) joined Bureau of tries with economies in transition. single-use plastics. Customs-Region 10 Port Collector John Speaking before the triumphant

16 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 LETTER FROM

crowd, Chinkie Peliño-Golle, Executive “We hope the next South Korea and other countries to deal Director of Davao City-based IDIS, said: re-exportation with their own wastes at home and stop “This dumping controversy and simi- exporting them to the Philippines and lar dumping incidents have reinforced schedule for the other Asian countries.” the urgency of ratifying the Basel Ban remaining 2700 Dr Joe DiGangi, Senior Science and Amendment and revising current regula- tonnes of unlawful Technical Advisor of the International tions that permit waste imports into the waste shipments Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), country under the guise of ‘recycling’. We will be the final which includes IDIS and the EcoWaste need to plug the regulatory loopholes Coalition among its members, agreed: that waste traders are taking advantage one, and that both “Korean waste should be managed in of, which is turning our country, particu- South Korea and the Korea and not dumped in the Philippines larly Mindanao, into a convenient dump- Philippines will take or anywhere else. This experience should ing site for plastic, electronic and other bold and resolute nudge both countries to promptly ratify hazardous wastes.” steps to prevent the the Basel Ban Amendment.” “Such wastes should be recycled, recurrence of illegal The groups further stressed the need treated or disposed of in the country for a national ban on waste importa- where they were generated,” said Aileen and immoral waste tion from all countries that will cover all Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste trafficking.” wastes, including household and plastic Coalition, who also added that “while wastes, as the Basel Ban Amendment is Aileen Lucero we pursue ecological solutions to our National Coordinator, EcoWaste focused mainly on ship- domestic garbage woes, we must tell Coalition ments from developed countries.

PFTHae_WMW_1007 1 7/6/10 3:14 PM JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 17 NEWS

FM2 generates 79 MW gross and 72 MW net of electricity, and processes 675,000 tonnes of waste-derived fuels annually.

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THE PLASTICS RECYCLING SHOW EUROPE Bob Boucher The Rai, Amsterdam President and CEO at Wheelabrator 25–26th March 2020 www.prseventeurope.com

ISRI CONVENTION & EXPOSITION 2020 Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas WHEELABRATOR OPENS HUGE MULTIFUEL 2 25–30 April 2020 www.isri.org WASTE TO ENERGY PLANT IN UK

WASTEEXPO Following a three-year construction period, FM1. This performance was a key require- New Orleans, USA 4–7 May 2020 Swiss technology supplier Hitachi Zosen ment for the construction of FM2. Matthew www.wasteexpo.com Inova has completed the commissioning Knight, Project Manager for MEL, said: “FM2 phase and handed over the 675,000 tonne is now one of the most efficient energy IFAT 2020 Munich, Germany per year Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 (FM2) from waste plants in the UK, powering 4–8 May 2020 waste to energy plant in West Yorkshire homes and businesses, and diverting www.ifat.de to Multifuel Energy Limited (MEL), a joint thousands of tonnes of waste from landfill BIR WORLD RECYCLING CONVENTION & venture between SSE plc and Wheelabrator every year.” EXHIBITION Technologies Inc. In December, another Wheelabrator waste Istanbul, Turkey 18–20 May 2020 The facility, located next to its sister plant to energy plant, Wheelabrator Parc Adfer, www.bir.org FM1, entered full commercial operation built by EPC contractor CNIM, also entered on Wednesday, 19 December. It is able to service. The company said that since begin- RWM EXHIBITION 2020 Birmingham, UK process waste-derived fuels from various ning commercial operations, the 220,000 16–17 September 2020 sources such as , tonne per year facility has performed ex- www.rwmexhibition.com commercial and , and waste ceptionally well with a capacity of 220,000 ECOMONDO wood. tons per year (200,000 tonnes). Rimini, Italy Hitachi Zosen Inova designed, procured A third facility, Wheelabrator Kemsley, also 3–6 November 2020 and built the new FM2 plant after its sister being built by CNIM, is currently progress- www.ecomondo.com plant FM1, also by HZI, which has been in ing hot commissioning and is expected to WASTECON commercial operation since July 2015. With come online in Q2 2020. The facility will Dallas, Texas, USA 7–10 December 2020 a large boiler capacity of 117 MW thermal, process 550,000 tonnes and generate www.swana.org/Events/WASTECON FM2 achieves the same performance as 69 MW (gross) when taken over from CNIM.

18 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 NEWS

Large Metal Separation Module under construction at Bunting-Redditch

MAGNETIC SORTING FIRM BUNTING EXPANDS REDDITCH MANUFACTURING SITE

Since acquiring Master Magnets in January manufacturing and office space. 2017, magnetic sorting equipment special- By extending the existing manufacturing ist Bunting Group has increased output at building, Bunting intends to increase the APR LAUNCHES its European manufacturing headquarters factory floor space by 50%. RENEWED PUSH for magnetic separators and metal detec- The additional manufacturing area is said FOR GROCERY RIGID tors in Redditch, UK. to be ideal for the building of Metal Sepa- To cope with the increase, work on an ration Modules for the recycling industry, PLASTICS RECYCLING expansion started in November 2019, incorporating Eddy Current Separators, creating additional car parking space for Drum Magnets and Vibratory Feeders. US trade body the Association of Plastic employees and visitors. However, the “The demand for such magnetic separa- Recyclers (APR) is to make a renewed major work began in January 2020. tion technology continues to grow and we push to encourage retail grocery chains to The investment programme covers three needed to rethink our manufacturing strat- aggregate and market their behind- separate areas with a completion date of egy. The increased manufacturing floor the-counter rigid plastics. autumn 2020. Initially, the entire roof of space will result in improved productivity Recyclable items common to retail the existing manufacturing plant is being with the aim of shortening production grocery include bakery and deli pails and replaced. This will then be followed by lead times,” explained Adrian Coleman, buckets, seafood trays and lids, and bulk two separate building projects to increase General Manager of Bunting-Redditch. pharmaceutical containers, all manufac- tured from valuable high-density poly- ethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) SWANA SETS POSITION ON EXTENDED plastic resins. “The APR estimates that LANDFILL CARE RESPONSIBILITY US supermarkets have the potential to generate over 300 million pounds of rigid The obligation to care for closed protection of human health and the envi- plastics over the course of a year in be- does not end when regulatory post-closure ronment. The policy also says there should hind-the-counter applications, including care periods are complete, according to a be a process to end long-term management pharmacy stock bottles, which can double new technical policy just released by the obligations when site-specific monitoring a store’s volumes,” said Kate Eagles, APR Solid Waste Association of North America data shows organic or functional stability Program Director. “This is easily recover- (SWANA). with the final cover system in place. able, stackable material, and is typically Technical Policy 9.4 – The Long-Term Man- “SWANA emphasises the protection of up to 450% more valuable per ton than agement of Municipal Solid Waste Landfills human health and the environment and it OCC. We encourage grocery retailers to states that even after the end of the regula- is sometimes difficult to accept that regula- take a look at what this programme can tory post-closure care period, landfill own- tions that apply equally to all facilities at all offer them.” “As a processor and seller of ers/operators should plan for the need to times can take us only so far in accomplish- recycled HDPE and PP, we are always inspect and maintain the landfill’s final cover ing that,” said Tim Mitchell, Past Division looking for new sources systems and to implement other environ- Director of SWANA’s Landfill Management of recycled plastic supply, mental control systems to ensure ongoing Technical Division. and I can attest to the domestic value of these retail “This policy acknowledges that grocery plastic materials,” at the end of the regulated post- added closure care period, additional Brandon oversight and maintenance may be Shaw of India- napolis-based required for a time but emphasises Plastics Recy- that the additional needs should cling Incorpo- rated. Tim Mitchell be determined individually for Past Division Director of SWANA each site.”

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 19 NEWS

INTERSTATE WASTE SERVICES MERGES TWO OTHER WASTE FIRMS UNDER ITS OWN BRAND Artificially Teaneck, New Jersey-based Interstate Waste high prices Services (IWS) has merged The Action Envi- for PRNs are said to be ronmental Group, Inc. and Apex Environmen- distorting the tal Resources Holdings with financial backing market. from Littlejohn & Co., a private investment firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut. The combined company will operate under the Interstate Waste Services brand. IWS is the largest privately held, vertically RECORD FINAL QUARTER RECYCLING integrated provider of solid waste collection, FIGURES FOR ALUMINIUM PACKAGING IN UK transfer, recycling and disposal services serving the greater New York City and North- Provisional data published by the Environ- to provide a significant carry-forward to- ern New Jersey markets. It operates nearly ment Agency has indicated that alumin- wards next year’s increased targets (61% 400 collection vehicles throughout the five ium has exceeded the 2019 packaging in 2019 vs 64% in 2020). boroughs of New York City, Northern and recycling target of 112,200 tonnes (61%). Rick Hindley, Executive Director for trade Central New Jersey, and Orange and Rockland The data reports 114,748 tonnes collected association, Alupro, said: “The abnormally County, New York; a network of 22 transfer for recycling, a 15% increase on 2018. high PRN price has significantly impacted and transload facilities; and a rail-served solid Due to be finalised in March 2020, the producers and once again brings into waste landfill in Amsterdam, Ohio. data indicates that Q4 was the strongest question the system itself. Aluminium quarter of the year and the highest ever is a sustainable material, yet the mar- reported across the 12-month period, ket distortion caused by organisations “THIS TRANSACTION with approximately 34,000 tonnes of holding back PRNs in order to force prices aluminium packaging being recycled. to artificially high levels undermines the CREATES A This exceeds the target and is anticipated aluminium packaging industry.” TREMENDOUS PLATFORM FOR CONTINUED “IT IS EXCELLENT NEWS… GROWTH AND WILL BUT THE DATA AGAIN ENABLE US TO OFFER CLEARLY SUGGESTS GREATER SCALE AND THAT THE ALUMINIUM SERVICES FOR OUR PRN MARKET HAS BEEN CUSTOMERS.” DISTORTED.”

Rick Hindley Michael DiBella Executive Director for trade Founder and Chief Executive Officer of IWS association Alupro

20 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 NEWS

THE NEWS IN NUMBERS IN BRIEF

By 2018, over

WEEE FORUM EXPANDS TO HELP TACKLE 6750 GLOBAL E-WASTE ISSUE 4500STORES WERE PARTICIPATING The WEEE Forum, a Brussels-based, inter- tonnes in the APR-initiated program national not-for-profit association, which STEEL used in the structure of for rigid plastics, recycling an represents forty not-for-profit electrical and the Multifuel 2 waste to energy estimated 18 million pounds electronic equipment waste producer respon- sibility organisations, has started 2020 by plant in West Yorkshire. (8165 metric tonnes). welcoming four new members, two of which are from outside Europe as the organisation continues its global expansion. The four new members are Cobat RAEE, Italy, Recyclia, million Spain, Karo Sambhav, India and EPRON, Nige- ria. Karo Sambhav and EPRON represent the miles WEEE Forum’s first African and Asian mem- Once16.3 the Larson project is complete, bers and join a list of members from across Brightmark’s BIOGAS PROJECTS will generate Europe, North America and Australasia. The organisation said that its expansion beyond enough biogas to drive a bus each year. its established European base reflects the recognised problem that e-waste has become in all parts of the world. FLOOR SPACE EXPANSION taking place at Bunting’s factory in Redditch. The whole office layout is being revamped to accommodate BRIGHTMARK ENERGY PARTNERS ON 50 a growing internal team and new FLORIDA BIOGAS PROJECT ‘Centre of Excellence’ laboratory. Brightmark Energy, a San Francisco-based PERCENT waste and energy development company, has partnered with four dairy farms in central Florida to build and operate three anaerobic digesters that will convert a total of 230,000 NEW DATA FROM tonnes of dairy manure per year from 9900 WRAP shows a of cows into renewable natural gas. Brightmark around reduction 7% will develop, own and operate the project. 500,000 The project includes the construction of new in total UK food waste in the last three years. anaerobic digesters at four Larson family dairy tonnes farms in Okeechobee County, including two farms owned by Larson Dairy, Inc. and two farms owned by JM Larson, Inc. After the proj- BRITS WON’T STOP BUYING ect is complete, the digesters are anticipated GIFTS in 2020 even if they to generate about 171,000 MMBtu of know the impact on the renewable natural gas each year. environment, according The gas will be delivered into the local to a poll carried out by PR 47 interstate gas pipeline system. company 72 Point. PERCENT

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 21 RECYCLING

FACTS 1791 The year STADLER was originally founded by the blacksmith Anton Stadler. 1991 The present sole shareholder, Willi Stadler, has run the company since 1991 and is the great-great-great- great-grandson of Anton Stadler. 2020 STADLER currently has a team of over 450 qualified employees offering custom-designed MRFs worldwide.

DELABELLING A NEW APPROACH FROM STADLER In 1798, just a few years after German engineering firm STADLER was founded, Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner looked out from the deck of his ship and proclaimed “water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink”. If he had written it today, the old sailor may have had something to say about “plastic, plastic everywhere”, because it certainly is. But with its new Delabeler, STADLER is aiming to do its bit to reduce that.

By Ben Messenger

22 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 RECYCLING

The machine’s quality features include the rotor with rotating arms motor and gearbox from SEW, the maintenance doors with safety lock, and the electrical cabinet with frequency inverter and adjustable rotor speed – from 20 to 60 Hz (80 to 240 rpm).

everal years back, when I was many Asian countries meaning poorly new to WMW, one of the first sorted bales of bottles for export are no site tours I went on was to a longer an option. The move now is to- Splastic bottle recycling plant. Admittedly wards clean bales, sent to domestic re- it was targeting HDPE rather than PET, processing plants. But even then, our old but the principles are the same. On enter- friend the label still has to be dealt with. ing the plant I couldn’t help but think of It’s not a problem without existing solu- Eddie from Absolutely Fabulous and her tions. But, having been in the recycling catchphrase “labels, labels, labels” – they equipment business since the early 1990s, were literally everywhere. Or at least that’s it is one that German equipment manufac- how it seemed to me as something of a turer STADLER was keen to put its own en- newbie to recycling plants at the time. gineering ‘twist’ on. Around two years ago Since then a lot has happened. The the firm, which prides itself on reinvesting plastic pollution crisis has moved from a at least 5% of its revenue into research and semi-hidden dirty secret to an open eye- development, saw an opportunity to im- sore, with real public demand to ensure prove the process for plastic bottles, de- that these materials are properly, cleanly veloped a specific delabelling solution and and sustainably processed. The out-of- began work on its own design. sight, out-of-mind approach has also “Bottles make up a large propor- been squeezed, with import bans from tion of plastic waste, and they present a

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 23 RECYCLING

80% of the labels and has a capacity of up to 6 tonnes per hour depending on the particle size distribution, screen per- foration sizes and material composition. It is equipped with knives made from high-tensile steel that are attached to the rotor so as to oscillate freely at one end, and fixed to the inner housing wall at the other. “We have the body of the machine which has a rotor with a lot of specially designed knives on a rotor which rotates,” explains Mežič. “The bottles come into the machine and because the bottle is moved across the knives they scrape the labels off. You have to find a balance be- tween speed of the rotor and the distance and angle of the knives. There are many parameters to consider, and you will dam- age some of the bottles. Our goal is to keep this to a minimum, but it’s a dry sys- tem without water, so this is not a prob- lem for the process of sorting PET. We have a lot of space between the rotor and the starter so we don’t get as many jams The Delabeler was tested in the US and in two recycling plants in Germany. The and we can easily maintain it. customers involved were impressed by the difference made by the Delabeler to “With most of the input to bottle their process – so much so that they all purchased the machine once the tests were sorting lines coming from baled inputs, completed. The STADLER Delabeler’s robust overall construction and extremely high resistance to impurities and troubling materials result in excellent durability and mean the machine is intended to operate with that it will deliver a consistent high performance throughout its long life cycle. a debaler ahead of it in the line, but if some bottles entering the machine are compressed, the machine will decom- press them,” he adds. “It depends on the input material, how big the bottles are, particular issue to the recycling industry,” how many sleeved labels it contains, and says Rok Mežič, Head of R&D Slovenia, how much flow of materials needs to be who led the development process of this treated on the machine. machine. “The labels are made of a differ- “It also depends on the type of labels ent polymer and colour than the bottles, – paper labels are a problem because they which negatively affects the accuracy of are glued onto the bottle and you cannot the sorting process. At STADLER we saw remove them mechanically. Sleeve labels the need to address this issue.” are also more difficult and can slow the throughput of the machine. When we WHAT IS IT? sell a machine our technicians will go to By December last year, STADLER was the site and do the hot commissioning ready to unveil the fruits of its labour to to optimise the parameters and find the the public: a Delabeler to remove the la- balance between all the factors for their bels automatically at the beginning of the input material. But we can guarantee it process in order to achieve high-quality will remove more than 80% of the labels.” sorting and good purity rates. The material exiting the Delabeler is a Weighing approximately 4.6 tonnes mix of bottles and labels, which are then and operating in a compact package sent to a ballistic separator with fans to measuring 2733 x 1862 x 2317mm, the separate the 2D label fraction and the 3D 37 kW belt driven machine removes over bottle fraction. The big advantage of this

24 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 RECYCLING

is that by the time the material reaches “We will see in future what the custom- “FOR SURE IT the optical sorters, most of the label ma- ers say,” he tells WMW. “They will do LEADS TO BETTER terial is gone, leading to higher efficiency with the machine what they want and we and better quality at this stage. will react. But for now, we also want to SORTING ON THE “For sure it leads to better sorting on use the machine for other applications, OPTICAL SORTERS the optical sorters if you don’t have the let’s say, for example, on the shredding, IF YOU DON’T labels on the bottle,” says Mežič. “Of because we can shred materials with it course, this leads to higher quality at the and clean the fractions, such as the alu- HAVE THE LABELS end of the plant.” minium fraction, which is already a sep- ON THE BOTTLE.” arate fraction from the household waste. AND WHAT’S NEXT? But when you separate metals from the For STADLER, a key part of the busi- household waste, there is a lot of dirt in- ness is always anticipating the evolution side. We are trying now to use these ma- of the recycling industry, developing chines to clean this fraction. products to meet new market needs and “We have one machine in the US and constantly improving its processes to ad- one in Romania, and now we are plan- dress its clients’ changing requirements. ning to do a plant with delabelling in Rok Mežič Head of R&D Slovenia, For the Delabeler, Mežič sees that de- Japan – our market is the whole world,” who led the development velopment leading to new applications. he concludes. process of this machine RECYCLING

RECYCLING PLASTICS FROM WEEE COMPLEX, COSTLY AND FAR FROM COMFORTABLE

In the face of missed targets and continued illegal exports of WEEE, Defra said in the recent UK Resources and Waste Strategy that it plans to review WEEE regulations in early 2020. At the recent RINA Electrical and Electronic Equipment and the Environment conference in London, a number of industry leaders offered a look at what the industry is doing to catch up.

By Ben Messenger

26 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 RECYCLING

aste Electrical and “IF PRODUCERS exported, with companies washing their Electronic Equipment hands of the responsibilities.” (WEEE) is the ele- DON’T MEET He sees a number of issues. First and Wphant in the room. A quick scan of recent THE WEEE foremost, scavenging of WEEE for the news articles pulls up a plethora of missed COLLECTION best (read: most profitable) parts means a targets, new legislation, problems with TARGETS, THEY reduction in the overall availability of raw exportation and technological advances. material. Meanwhile, the illegal export of A heady mix of information, indeed, CAN PAY A FEE whole WEEE articles and materials – such and truly a minefield. On top of this, the INTO THE FUND, as recycled plastic shred – out of the EU Department for Environment, Food and BASED ON THE is causing all sorts of industry headaches Rural Affairs (Defra) is to review WEEE AVERAGE COST and leads us back to the ‘level playing regulations early this year. field’ argument. Those involved in the industry need OF COLLECTION to be fully aware of the timescales for PLUS SOME FIRE-RETARDANT PLASTICS delivery, the scale of change and impacts ESCALATORS Bradley describes a situation where re- of EU Exit discussions on parliamentary moving the unwanted parts of the WEEE process, and economic pressures on the – SO IT’S – such as flame retardants – is costly, economy as a whole. But ask any man- DESIGNED TO time-consuming and expensive. He paints ufacturer of electronics in the UK today ENCOURAGE a picture whereby a UK recycler has what they are looking for in terms of COLLECTION.” 10,000 tonnes of plastic shred that po- compliance with management of their tentially contains fire retardants. It could WEEE, and they will probably simply say be sent to a specialist processor in the ‘a level playing field.’ EU to remove the offending chemicals – There are those who are truly taking and under the WEEE Directive all BFR- a stand – multinational consumer-fac- containing plastics must be separated ing brands with a lot to lose in reputa- from other plastics – but it can take six tion terms – and those who are simply months to get an export licence. paying lip service to the WEEE Directive “Getting such a licence is expensive, and environmental legislation. With complicated and you might need help to more than 300 different types of plas- do the paperwork. Meanwhile, you’ve got tic used in manufacturing, it’s complex, 10,000 tonnes of plastic shred clogging it’s costly and it’s a far from comforta- up your warehouse – so what do you do?” ble issue. asks Bradley. It’s clear that current complexity and MUST COLLECT MORE cost means recyclers are looking for al- Speaking at the RINA Electrical ternative solutions. But the alternative is and Electronic Equipment and the often shipping rough shredded plastic to Environment conference in London, Dr Asia, where it is processed and sent back Kevin Bradley, Secretary General of The to Europe. And that’s how flame retard- International Bromine Council (BSEF), ants have been found in food packaging says that what’s needed are pragmatic on European supermarket shelves. solutions and a better approach to sort- Bradley says part of the problem here ing the waste at source. is that while sorting is a requirement, the “No one is collecting enough,” he directive doesn’t prescribe what must be states bluntly. “And an awful lot of WEEE done. “If we can get it right at the first is still stuck in people’s drawers – they stage,” he says, “then that’s half the bat- don’t know what to do with it. In terms tle. Recyclers are being asked to do things of recyclers, there isn’t a single company manufacturers are not.” that processes plastic waste – especially Under the current system, there’s no that containing brominated fire retard- coherence between the WEEE directive ants (BFRs) – from start to finish. There Scott Butler and waste shipment regulation – so there are a lot of grey areas, and material is WEEE Fund Project Manager are differences in implementation and

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 27 RECYCLING

interpretation within Europe, and glob- Commission finalise its proposals for a ally. The burden of WEEE is also on Circular Economy Package – including producers, with industry circles keen to significant changes to EPR for packaging. learn more about Extended Producer This year, Storer explains, has seen the Responsibility (EPR). UK Government seeking detailed consul- tations on proposals for how the UK sys- THE SECRET OF SUCCESSFUL EPR tem could be improved and changed in In 2017, Valpak, the compliance, recycling the future. and waste services company, carried out a “This led us to further develop our review of the main EU systems for EPR for thinking and develop a ‘hybrid model’ for packaging across major EU countries. EPR,” says the technical advisor, adding: Ben Storer, Senior Technical Advisor “The hybrid model was referenced and at Valpak, explains that the “PackFlow referred to in the DEFRA consultation re- 2025” study researched what elements sponses and we believe it provides all the were essential to successful EPR schemes. beneficial aspects of the other models. We “We looked at what full net costs may hope it will be taken forward further by mean, and look like, as well as what could the Government.” be learned from other schemes. This has He offers a stark warning in terms of formed the baseline for our proposals EPR: “The biggest change will be the and feedback for EPR Reform consul- move to full net costs. This means pro- tation. It has been broadly welcomed by ducers will be expected to pay the entire the industry,” he says, adding that the costs for collecting, recycling and dispos- report’s findings helped the European ing of packaging in future, rather than just a contribution towards it.” Of course, a move to full net costs, he says, puts a much higher emphasis on DEFRA DECISION REQUIRES RETAILERS TO data reporting and ensuring that this is accurate, as this drives costs. COLLECT WASTE ELECTRICALS & LAMPS He suggests any future system should be designed to use this extra funding to Defra has now confirmed that from the the end of this year should do much to increase efficiency, improve the quality end of 2020, most retailers will be re- increase WEEE and lamp collections. of recycling and develop further recycling quired to provide in-store WEEE takeback. “The legal obligation to collect only infrastructure in the UK. The new requirement will apply to all applies where a customer buys a similar retailers and wholesalers with annual sales product to that being returned. However, FUNDRAISING of electrical items above £100,000. the challenge of enforcing this strictly Meanwhile Scott Butler, WEEE Fund Online retailers without physical retail probably means many will simply offer the Project Manager with the not-for-profit premises, and retailers with sales below service to all customers. Joint Trade Associations (JTAC), a collec- the cut off, can avoid the need to provide “This change means that from next tion of electronics industry trade bodies in-store WEEE takeback by joining the year, any retailer selling lamps will including TechUK, is keen to see new “Distributor Takeback Scheme”. be required to provide a waste lamp innovation and technologies adopted in Commenting on the news, Nigel takeback service. That is good news. And the sector. Harvey, CEO of Recolight, which provides although the requirement will also apply The UK-based WEEE Fund was devel- WEEE compliance and recycling for all to electrical wholesalers where they sell oped by some of the major producers as WEEE lighting, said: “For several years, the household or dual-use electricals, most of a reaction to UK WEEE regulations. “In UK’s recycling rates for waste electricals them already offer Recolight’s waste lamp short,” he explains, “if producers don’t and lamps have stalled. It is well estab- takeback service.” meet the WEEE collection targets, they lished that to increase rates, consumers Announcing the decision, the Govern- can pay a fee into the fund, based on the must have access to convenient drop-off ment’s spokesperson said: “…this decision average cost of collection plus some esca- points. But until now, an opt-out meant has been taken in the context of new lators – so it’s designed to encourage col- that virtually all retailers could avoid approaches being required to meet the lection.” their legal obligation to provide in-store more ambitious and challenging collec- Funds collected are then invested in collection. The removal of that opt-out at tion targets in 2020 and beyond.” new schemes and research projects, many of which wouldn’t otherwise go beyond

28 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 RECYCLING

the drawing board. The WEEE Fund – that it will help producers meet future which has so far raised more than £8 mil- collection and recycling targets. lion – is one of a number of such schemes, many set up by producers working in the FINAL THOUGHTS same space. Dr Chris Robertson, Head of Product The Fund provides financial support Regulatory Compliance at RINA, the to research projects – with the evaluation global assessment, technical consultancy, panel looking for innovation. It also of- engineering, inspection, certification and fers local authority and community or- research organisation, agrees with Bradley ganisation grants, with Butler saying they that what’s needed is a level playing field. “look to support collection and reuse He says: “Everyone should have to do schemes.” the same thing, but it’s patchy and de- “Thirdly, we invest in communication pends on which sector a company op- and behaviour change. We are embarking erates in, in terms of compliance. The on a major consumer-facing campaign in sensible thing to do is to try and antici- 2020 to educate and encourage WEEE re- pate what legal and other changes are cycling,” he reveals. coming up – and ensure you understand The WEEE Fund is currently backing what this means in terms of compliance research into the sources and destina- requirements, financial obligations and tions of WEEE in the UK – in the hope market access.”

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www.untha.com JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 29 RECYCLING

FACTS BUDGET The overall budget for the project is almost €10.5 million, of which around €10 million is funded by the EU.

28 PARTNERS The EU-funded project involves 28 partners and will run until September 2023. 100+ The Local Governments for Sustainability network has members in over 100 countries. CITYLOOPS TO BRING C&D WASTE AND ORGANICS FULL CIRCLE

Seven small to medium- urope consumes between (ICLEI) – a global network of more than sized European cities 1.2 and 1.8 billion tonnes of 1750 local and regional governments – are to participate in the materials per year for build- Høje-Taastrup and Roskilde (Denmark), Eings and infrastructure. According to the Mikkeli (Finland), Apeldoorn (the EU-funded CityLoops European Commission, construction and Netherlands), Bodø (Norway), Porto project. A series of demolition (C&D) waste accounts for (Portugal) and Seville (Spain) are the innovative procedures, around 25-30% of all waste generated in seven European cities that will pilot a the EU and consists of numerous mate- series of demonstration actions on C&D approaches and open access rials, including concrete, bricks, gypsum, and organic waste with the aim of achiev- and open source tools will wood, glass, metals, plastic, solvents, as- ing material circularity. be developed in order to bestos and excavated soil, many of which During the project, over 30 new tools can be recycled. and processes will be tested as part of embed circularity within Meanwhile, some 130 million tonnes CityLoops, an EU-funded project involv- the cities’ approaches to of organic waste come from a combina- ing 28 partners, which has just kicked off dealing with C&D and tion of municipal solid waste, commer- and will run until September 2023. Cities organic waste. cial sources and public spaces. Led by will explore how public sector purchases Local Governments for Sustainability can create markets for innovative circular By Ben Messenger

30 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 RECYCLING

Demonstration: The solutions will be implemented and tested. In each city, a Local Stakeholder Partnership will be established at the outset of the project, involving citizen groups, business com- munities and other relevant partners, to guide planning and implementation. In each case, public procurement actions will also be analysed to assess potential supportive measures. Replication: Upscaling of CityLoops measures at regional and European level. The solutions and actions range from instruments for predicting future exca- vated C&D and soil production to aware- ness-raising campaigns, circularity deci- sion-making support tools, simulation of impacts, 3D visualisation tools and pro- curement guidelines for organic products. As the selected cities are small to me- dium-sized (with populations from 50,000 to 600,000), the tools, approaches and solutions demonstrated should be replicable in a large number of cities across Europe. Replication is embedded throughout the project. At city level, all demonstration cities will prepare scale-up plans. At a regional level Collaborative Representatives from most of the seven cities gather at the launch event. Two further cities are “CITYLOOPS Learning Networks will be established, already ‘followers’; additional cities and procure- AIMS TO consisting of other municipalities, pub- ment authorities that are interested in becoming PROVIDE lic bodies and other relevant regional circular can join in and follow the activities of this institutions, to prepare regional upscal- project through a range of site visits, workshops A TESTED and webinars. ing plans. At a European level, a series of BLUEPRINT FOR Replication Zones will be recruited over PROMOTING the course of the project to prepare repli- CIRCULARITY cation plans. Guidance on replication will also be produced. economy products and solutions. The ul- WHICH OTHER timate goal is to drive the transition to a LOCAL AND CIRCULAR CITIES DECLARATION circular economy. REGIONAL Political representatives from the demon- Having begun on 31 October last year strator CityLoops cities, as well as from and running to 30 September 2023, the GOVERNMENTS Vallès Occidental, Spain (one of the project is made up of three phases: ACROSS EUROPE ‘followers’ of the project together with Inception and preparation: During CAN FOLLOW.” Murcia, Spain), gathered recently to sign the inception phase, a circular city scan a ‘Circular Cities Declaration’. methodology and indicators will be devel- By signing the declaration, they commit oped and implemented in each city. This to enhancing the circular economy through will be achieved by adapting current ma- policy and regulatory levers; to initiating a terial flow analysis and urban metabolism series of innovative pilot and demonstra- methods to include context-specific data tion activities to help identify the most and challenges, adjust planned demon- promising solutions; to sharing knowledge stration actions, provide an evaluation with peers; and to building a wider circular framework for the measures and monitor Simon Clement cities coalition with key stakeholders and their progress towards a circular economy. Coordinator at ICLEI initiatives across Europe.

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 31 RECYCLING

CIRCULATE ENCOURAGING CIRCULAR MICRO ECONOMIES IN NEW SOUTH WALES

Colin Barker, director at Newtecpoly which uses PolyWaste technology to manufacture a plastic wood s it looks for alternatives to economy model in the region to tackle substitute made from the landfilling and exporting this very important issue. We’ve making mixed plastics of products wastes, New South Wales people re-think the impact of soft-plastic previously destined for (NSW) rolled out its Circulate programme, packaging, and it’s making people want to landfill. A which offers grants to businesses and or- take action,” explains Sam Cross, Director ganisations developing industrial syner- at Cross Connections. “Cross Connections gies for C&I and C&D wastes. The state’s has been working with companies such as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ex- Newtecpoly to look at ways to reform soft plains that it is aiming to boost ‘industrial plastics into products.” ecology’ with projects which redesign indus- Colin Barker, director at Newtecpoly, elab- trial processes so they function in similar orates: “We’ve got a brand new technology ways to natural ecosystems. In this way, the called PolyWaste. We’re able to process mixed, waste products of one process become the co-mingled and contaminated hard and soft resources of another process. plastics and turn them into products.” Circulate grants are awarded to pro- Using the technology, Cross Connections jects that prolong the life of resources or has assisted the community in diverting give materials a second life, keeping them over 1000 kg of plastics from landfill and out of landfill by scouting out opportu- turned them into a bench made from recy- nities for these materials to be reused in cled plastics for a local school. industrial or construction processes. $1.2 “One of the very important things about In New South million is available under the programme the Circulate programme is the increase Wales, Australia, until 2021, with individual grants of up to in awareness across businesses that there $150,000 available. are ways to recycle soft and hard plastics,” the Department of Recipients develop synergies with other adds Barker. Planning, Industry industries to identify industrial ecology and Environment is opportunities, increase efficiency and save OFFICE FURNITURE: Meanwhile, the Winya money by reducing waste sent to landfill. Indigenous Furniture project received a managing a six-year To date, the programme has diverted more $75,000 Circulate grant to transform broken programme designed than 50,000 tonnes of C&I and C&D waste and tossed-out furniture into new office to support recovery from landfill. pieces. Up to 99% of used office furniture is of commercial and For example, under the Circulate currently sent to landfill in NSW. programme, waste consultancy Cross Winya Indigenous Furniture collects industrial (C&I) Connections Consulting received $150,000 and disassembles the furniture, recov- and construction to reprocess soft-plastic waste from local ers the metals for recycling and removes and demolition businesses into park benches, garden beds the melamine. Medium-density fibre- and fencing. board and particleboard are recycled into (C&D) waste by “Under the Circulate programme, we’re e-board for use in new office furniture by organisations across currently working with businesses to help Indigenous staff. the state. identify how much plastic they’re currently sending to landfill. From all accounts, it’s SIMPLY CUPS: Closed Loop Environmental By Ben Messenger a lot. We’ve developed a micro-circular Solutions has been the beneficiary of a

32 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 RECYCLING

$115,000 grant for its existing coffee cup “WE’VE reducing. To boost this practice, Stephen recycling programme, Simply Cups. The DEVELOPED A Mitchell Associates was awarded $143,225 project looks to increase the quantity of MICRO-CIRCULAR for a project that will target the Sydney coffee cups collected for reprocessing region’s timber recyclers, wood product from office buildings as well as collection ECONOMY manufacturers (including frame and places in public spaces such as shopping MODEL IN THE truss fabricators), importers and logistics centres, entertainment precincts, airports, REGION TO companies to recycle waste timber offcuts hospitals and other businesses. TACKLE THIS and reuse or recycle redundant timber VERY IMPORTANT pallets and crates. PVC FROM CONSTRUCTION: Vinidex Pty previously secured $150,000 to ISSUE.” FINAL THOUGHTS: “These grants can recover residual polyvinyl chloride help reshape our waste and recycling from construction and demolition and industry in NSW, which is undergoing commercial and industrial waste streams. It significant change,” summarises EPA will be collected and processed for use in the Executive Director of Waste Operations production of new plastic pipes and fittings and Programs Carmen Dwyer. “Already, – closing the loop on finite resources. previous grant recipients have diverted thousands of tonnes of waste from HARD WOOD TIMBER: The practice landfill and are continuing to take major of reusing timber is becoming more Sam Crosss strides forward in reshaping the way we important as hardwood timber supplies are Director at Cross Connections deal with waste.”

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JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 33 RECYCLING

PRODUCT NEWS

NEW VECOPLAN FLEXIBLE SHREDDERS FOR PLASTICS RECYCLING CAN HANDLE ANYTHING

At K 2019 in Düsseldorf, Vecoplan with ease – there is no need to touch the presented its newly developed VIZ (Ve- rotor. If a tool holder is damaged, only the Vecoplan’s new VIZ can reliably shred a wide range coplan Infinity) line of shredders, relevant segment has to be replaced. of plastics materials. a world first in plastics recycling. These The design of the machine allows users highly efficient shredders are particu- to choose between the HiTorc drive with larly flexible in terms of cutting its powerful start-up phase and high geometry. The machines can be pre- torque or the ESC, Vecoplan’s frequency- cisely adapted to different input and controlled, belt-driven direct drive. Both output requirements by changing the systems are patented and notable for their rotors and blades and by selecting the high energy efficiency. right screen. They also stand out for “The VIZ is based on our extensive excellent reliability, low operating costs experience in the shredding of plastics, and maximum throughput. which has enabled us to meet a wide range of customer requirements,” says Schmidt. In “Our VIZ series offers a universal solution addition, Vecoplan has optimised the ram for all kinds of input materials,” says Martina and revised the machine design. Thanks Schmidt, head of Vecoplan’s Recycling and to the improved ram height, the VIZ can Waste Division. Companies that recycle now handle entire bales. The working plastics nowadays have to deal with a wide chamber of the machine was also en- variety of materials. “There are almost no larged, permitting reliable shredding limits when it comes to characteristics, of bales with model 1300 and higher. colour and form,” she explains. The machine In a comparable Vecoplan model manufacturer therefore puts a strong range this is possible only with emphasis on flexibility when it comes to sizes 1700 and higher, although cutting geometry. The performance can be the smaller version would have precisely adapted to the interface. the necessary throughput. “Our new rotor solution offers numer- Users can also equip the ous advantages,” says Schmidt. “Thanks to machine with a second counter the bolted tool holder plates with variable knife. Other advantages arise cutting tip sizes, rotor changes are now from the machine’s clear, well- a thing of the past.” Users only have to thought-out design: the VIZ is exchange the plates to quickly adapt the easier to clean, and the newly cutting geometry to different output grain designed ram is closer to the sizes. The rotor remains in the machine. rotor, thus reducing material

PRODUCT PROMOTION PRODUCT Even cutting tip changes can be carried out residues.

34 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 RECYCLING

Output of the dry fraction from a Tiger Depack HS 20

Input for a Tiger Depack HS 20 Output of the organic fraction from a Tiger Depack HS 20

TIGER DEPACK – RECYCLING THE ORGANIC FRACTION OF MSW

Tiger Depack is a depackaging machine and organic fractions. Tiger Depack can sent for disposal. Moreover, the organic matter used to improve the recycling of the be used in plants for the or- recovered could be reintroduced into the organic fraction of urban solid waste from ganic fraction of municipal solid waste which production cycle of biogas and . separate waste collections in organic contains a large quantity of plastic (mainly Tiger Depack was built to be a compact- waste treatment plants, by removing the plastic bags). Thanks to Tiger Depack, these sized recycling machine, with a fast and plastic at the pre-treatment phase outlet. plants can recover a large part of the organic simple processing system, and remarkably low matter and clean the plastic, which would running costs per tonne. The recycling industry requires machines that otherwise be disposed of with an increasingly The special technology also guarantees are simple, compact and efficient in treating steep cost for the company. The machine the homogenisation of the material, reducing input matrices to save time and resources. can recover 100% of the organic matter still the bulk to make it suitable for all applications: Facilities that use the Tiger Depack work for trapped in the plastic. from of wet organic mat- the recovery and disposal of the organic From the experience accrued in working ter through to composting. fraction originating from separate waste dis- plants, it was found that against a weight of The Tiger Depack system was devised to posal aimed at the production of biomethane 27% of plastic sent for disposal, with the use obtain clean plastic and organic matter that’s through the biological stabilisation of food of Tiger Depack only 7% of the plastic was ready for anaerobic digestion.

AUSTRIAN METALS RECYCLING SPECIALIST SCHAUFLER INVESTS IN NEW UNTHA XR

UNTHA shredding technology, headquar- homogenous output fraction, allowing further tered in Kuchl bei Salzburg, increasingly downstream segregation processes to achieve leverages the performance and efficiency maximum recyclate yield. of its XR series for material recycling. A world-renowned UNTHA XR3000C was Numerous shredders of this series are first trialled back in 2018, using Schaufler’s already being used for this particular own materials. Impressed with the equip- purpose. The latest example is Schaufler, ment’s high throughputs and low wear rate, based in Ybbs an der Donau, which has the organisation has since invested in an XR Austrian metals recycling specialist decided to invest in the power of the shredder of its own. The UNTHA Eco Drive Schaufler invests in XR3000C. concept within the XR also lowers energy new UNTHA XR consumption by 75% compared to standard Schaufler GmbH in Ybbs an der Donau in electro-hydraulic drive options. added: “The XR is user-friendly, easy to main- Lower Austria is no stranger to ferrous and “In UNTHA, we have finally found a partner tain and, as we proved with Schaufler’s trial, non-ferrous materials, having operated in the who took our wishes into account and provid- it can be adapted to suit clients’ very specific metals market since 1948. The 120-strong ed targeted, solution-orientated support,” ex- requirements.” team handles copper, aluminium, zinc and plained Paul Losbichler, Schaufler’s managing The XR range consists of highly economi- stainless steel from scrap dealers, industry, director. “We have been particularly impressed cal, slow-running single-shaft shredders which municipal associations and private house- with the energy efficiency of the machine and were specially developed for the coarse, medi- holds, before collecting, sorting, shredding would highly recommend both the unit and um and fine shredding of untreated house- and selling the valuable recyclates to smelting the supplier.” hold waste, industrial and commercial waste works across Europe. Now fully commissioned, the high-per- as well as waste wood. However, minimum But keen to develop from a pure trading formance solution is configured to achieve operating costs combined with maximum company into a specialist recycling compa- throughputs of 20 tonnes per hour for copper performance make these shredders particular- ny, Schaufler sought a proven, heavy-duty cables, 8 tonnes for aluminium and 10 tonnes ly powerful solutions for recycling applications pre-shredding system that could effectively for composites. too. More than 250 XRs are already in opera-

process metal ‘waste’ to achieve a high-quality, UNTHA’s sales manager Daniel Wresnik tion worldwide. PROMOTION PRODUCT

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 35 WASTE TO ENERGY

PROGRESS FOR POWERHOUSE FIRST COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTED MODULAR GENERATION FACILITY READY TO RISE IN UK

Two years ago WMW met the PowerHouse Energy n many ways hydrogen is the University of Chester’s Thornton Science team to take an in-depth perfect fuel for road transit. Fuel Park and produces a local source of hy- cells work, electric motors are ef- drogen, starting with unrecyclable plas- look at its Distributed Ificient, and the only by-product is pure tics. This hydrogen could be used to Modular Gasification water. So why aren’t they everywhere? power buses and Heavy Goods Vehicles technology and its plans Well, you probably already know the why, (HGVs), before being rolled out to hydro- so in a nutshell – hydrogen is energy in- gen cars, helping to reduce air pollution to create a network of tensive to produce, and expensive to store and improve air quality on our roads. facilities to generate and distribute. Taking another significant environ- hydrogen from wastes for PowerHouse Energy’s answer to those mental problem, the technology also problems is to use local waste products provides a solution to plastics that can- use in fuel cell vehicles. to produce hydrogen locally and use that not be reused or recycled, and that would Now, having acquired its to fuel locally based hydrogen fuel cell otherwise end up in landfill. According partner Waste2Tricity in vehicle fleets. At the heart of this propo- to PHE, almost 1.2 million tonnes of December 2019, and with sition is an advanced thermal treatment waste plastics are currently going to technology dubbed DMG® (Distributed landfill every year in the UK and local financial backing from Modular Generation), which produces a authorities across the country are look- Peel, the company is ready syngas that can be used to produce both ing for alternative treatment technolo- to start building. electricity and hydrogen. gies. Of course plastic waste is not just The technology has been developed a problem for the UK, and this presents By Ben Messenger by PowerHouse Energy (PHE) at the the combined businesses with enormous

36 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE TO ENERGY

potential across Europe, the US and es- “Along with ergy users, network owners, innovators pecially the Far East. the magnitude and partners working alongside Cheshire & Warrington LEP, Cheshire West and COLLABORATION of this project Chester Council and the University of In April last year Waste2Tricity, the pro- and a formal Chester. With the objective of driving ject development partner of PHE, con- collaboration with down the cost of clean energy, the EID cluded negotiations and signed a lease is an opportunity to deliver a new decar- agreement for its first waste to hydrogen Peel, we expect bonised energy system for the North West site with green infrastructure develop- there will be of England, meeting the Government’s ment firm Peel Environmental, which is increased interest Clean Growth agenda while boosting eco- developing the 54 ha Protos site. The de- from investors who nomic growth and investment. velopment has full outline planning con- “We’ve been working with Peel for sent and part detailed planning consent want to support two years,” explains David Ryan, CEO for general manufacturing and distribu- this revolutionary of PowerHouse Energy. “Peel have been tion uses, as well as a biomass facility and technology across looking at our technology and getting a waste to energy facility. the UK.” more interested in our technology, par- The £700 million energy hub clusters ticularly in the hydrogen. Over recent complementary businesses, including months we’ve negotiated to the point energy-intensive industries, associated where they will take an active financial supply chain and energy generation. investment in that first project. It’s going Protos sits within the Energy Innovation John Hall to be a part of an overall plastic park. So District (EID), which brings together en- Managing Director of Waste2Tricity they’re bringing their vision of plastics

Energy from Waste London 4-5 March 2020 | Site visit 3 March 2020 Energy, heat, fuels and resources Unrivalled information International contacts Informed discussion Top level networking With over 50 speakers from: Hitachi Zosen Inova Kobelco Eco-Solutions Suez Recycling & Recovery Keppel Seghers Martin GmbH Indaver Geminor ABN Amro Bank Wheelabrator Technologies CNIM BWSC FCC Environment Foresight Group SPONSORED BY DBDH Fulcrum BioeEnergyEnergy Peel from L&P Twence Waste Aker Solutions N+ P Group GOLD SPONSOR Enerkem Dept for Intl Trade, UK Govt and many more... Specially reduced rate for Waste Management World readers - save £150.00 o the standard delegate place. BRONZE SPONSOR Book your place now using codeEnergy EFWMP20. from Waste Book today atLondon www.efwconference.com 4-5 March 2020 | Site visit 3 March 2020

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 37 Energy from Waste WASTE TO ENERGY

Peel to the wider deployment of DMG Energy Recovery Technology in the UK. Their commitment to commercial and funding engagement is an important step for PHE. Peel will aid the roll-out of the technology and importantly they share our vision of the great potential arising from the distributed hydrogen economy,” says Ryan. “We are hugely encouraged by the fact that we have demonstrated our technol- ogy to Peel over an extensive due diligence period and we have met the Peel criteria, not only technically but, more impor- tantly, commercially,” he continues. “As one of the UK’s largest industrial land- owners, Peel’s vast land bank, their exper- PowerHouse Energy’s planned waste to hydrogen facility on the Protos site will be the first of tise and their blue-chip counterparties 11 facilities able to covert unrecylable plastics locally into transport fuel and electricity. committed to plastic recycling and hydro- gen usage enable us to look forward to and plastic regeneration and we’re bring- “This is a great successful delivery of the projects under ing our DMG technology.” step forward this contract and beyond.” The design has progressed such that Kitcher adds: “We’re pioneering this the DMG® facilities at Protos would have towards delivering solution in the North West but local au- the capacity to process 35 tonnes per day the first of many thorities across the country could bene- of waste plastics and produce around 3.8 waste plastic fit from a more sustainable way to treat MWe on site, exporting 3.4 MWe of elec- waste plastic, whilst also creating a lo- tricity and up to 2 tonnes of hydrogen per to hydrogen cal source of low-carbon transport fuel day from the site. facilities across which could help them meet their climate “This project sums up the vision for the UK. There is change targets.” Protos – a closed loop solution where in- huge potential novative technologies are used to create GRANT value from waste and provide low-carbon for hydrogen to On 6 January this year, a £1.25 million energy sources,” says Myles Kitcher, man- replace fossil fuels grant was awarded to Waste2Tricity aging director of Peel Environmental. in our transport Protos for the DMG Hydrogen from “Not only will this help tackle the prob- system.” Waste development at Protos following a lem of waste plastics, it will provide a successful application to the £4.1 million local source of hydrogen which could be Energy Fund competition. The competi- used as a clean and low-cost fuel for buses tion is run by Cheshire and Warrington and HGVs across the region. We see this Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) as as the first of many opportunities to roll part of the Local Growth Fund, which out the technology across other Peel sites awards capital grants for projects that in the UK.” can support the objectives of the LEP’s Energy and Clean Growth Strategy. TEN MORE PLANNED The grant is to fund the purchase of As part of its long-term plans to roll the thermal conversion chamber, a core out a network of hydrogen-generating/ element of the DMG hydrogen from plas- vehicle-fuelling sites, in August 2019 PHE tic waste plant, and will be subject to the entered into a further collaboration con- DMG development at Protos achieving tract with Peel and Waste2Tricity to seek planning approval and funding by the to develop a minimum of 10 further sites end of March 2020. in the UK for DMG facilities. “The LEP is clear in its ambition to be Myles Kitcher “This contractual agreement repre- Managing director of a leader in clean growth and developed sents a substantial commitment from Peel Environmental the Energy Fund to support the sector in

38 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE TO ENERGY

accelerating the pace and scale of innova- enabling technology to ensure no plastic tion in energy technology and distribution,” FACTS is sent to landfill from these sites by re- comments Robert Mee DL, LEP Board generating the waste plastic into power Member and Chair of the Strategy Board. 22 DECEMBER 2019 and hydrogen. Tim Yeo, Chairman of Waste2Tricity, Waste2Tricity signed an agreement These Plastic Parks will ultimately cre- adds: “This grant offer recognises the im- to be acquired by partner company ate a countrywide plastic circular econ- PowerHouse Energy Group PLC. portance of the PHE DMG technology omy, with each site creating a local source and the impact it may have on assisting of hydrogen which could be used as a Cheshire and Warrington and potentially 87.5% clean and low-cost fuel for buses, Heavy The all-paper deal is based on W2T the country to the target of net zero emis- shares being exchanged for PHE Goods Vehicles and cars, helping to re- sions – through the creation of hydrogen ordinary shares, with 87.5% of the duce air pollution and improve air quality fuel from waste plastic.” PHE shares issued in exchange for on local roads. The parks will also pro- Waste2Tricity shares. vide a solution to the UK’s problem with BRIGHT FUTURE waste plastic. Peel ultimately has a strategy to develop £150 While the planning permission appli- a number of ‘Plastic Parks’, where waste MILLION cation for the Protos site is currently un- plastics are recycled and regenerated. Its Waste2Tricity, PHE and Peel der review, if/when it goes ahead it looks plan is to bring together potential coun- Environmental are part of a collab- like PHE and its partners are looking to oration agreement under which 11 terparties for waste, power and hydrogen waste plastic to hydrogen facilities move forward quickly. Given the progress with a net negative CO2 contribution for will be developed with an invest- since we last covered them, there should each site. PHE’s DMG process will be an ment of around £150 million. be a productive couple of years ahead.

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 39 LANDFILL

NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL IT’S SCADA BE PERFECT

Sweden’s SKB has identified two sites for the long-term storage of nucear waste. When considering the 100,000 year time-scale on which the materials must be kept safe from both natural and human dis- turbance, extreme care is needed before taking the plunge.

40 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 LANDFILL

Cecilia Berg, a chemist, taking water samples at borehole.

The topic of how to dispose of such as spent fuel from the power industry, as well as from other sources such as the medical and research industries, has always been something of a hot potato. In Sweden, SKB is responsible for this, and has been working with Applied Industrial Systems to ensure that should they choose to build at either of two prospective sites, it would be safe for 100,000 years…

By Ben Messenger

ith extreme require- nodular cast iron and copper and then ments for very long- embedded in a buffer of bentonite clay at term, ultra-safe stor- a depth of about 500 metres. The bedrock Wage, the selection of suitable sites at which and the great depth help to isolate the radioactive waste can be buried is critical, spent fuel from human beings and the and needs to be carried out meticulously. environment for at least 100,000 years. Tasked with constructing what it says is This means that the canisters and buffer “one of the largest environmental protec- will function for a very long time. tion projects in history”, SKB (Swedish Getting it wrong and finding out Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management during or relatively soon after construc- Company) first engaged Applied tion could prove an absolutely massive Industrial Systems (AIS) in 1988 to work waste of money. Getting it wrong and alongside it on the long-term safety mon- not finding out could potentially have a itoring of groundwater at two candidate catastrophic impact on an unknown civ- sites, Forsmark and Oskarshamn. ilisation many hundreds of generations Constructing a final repository for into the future. After all, we’re regularly spent nuclear fuel at a depth of about 500 both surprised and fascinated by the con- metres is today considered to be the saf- tents of ancient waste sites across Europe, est solution. The spent nuclear fuel will China, the Middle East and elsewhere – be encapsulated in robust canisters with and with this waste being up to around

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 41 LANDFILL

SCHEMATIC DRAWING OUTLINING HOW NUCLEAR WASTE WILL BE HANDLED BY SKB.

Medical care, Final repository industry and for short-lived research radioactive waste Final repository for long-lived LILW Low- and inter- mediate level waste

Transport by M/S Sigrid

High-level waste

Nuclear power plant Interim storage for Final repository for spent nuclear fuel with spent nuclear fuel planned encapsulation section

5000 years old, the people who buried it including groundwater levels and water are pretty much our contemporaries on pressure, water temperature at various KEY SYSTEM BENEFITS the geological timescales that nuclear dis- depths, seismic activity, electrical conduc- posal sites will need to remain safe. With tivity and groundwater flow. From this, • Flexibility to acquire a that in mind, spending a few decades on a detailed understanding of how water range of data in real time from a wide range of online due diligence seems pretty sensible. travels within the bedrock – and therefore and offline sources and For compliance purposes, SKB needs the environmental implications of the re- successfully integrate both to show that if it were to construct a fi- pository – could be modelled. variants. nal repository at one of these locations, The AIS/SKB SCADA system has the • User-friendly customisable there would be no risk of water contam- flexibility to acquire a range of data in reports illustrating long- ination and that the safety of remaining real time and generate customisable re- term hydro-geological movements can be ac- substances would be maintained for at ports that illustrate long-term hydro- cessed via an online portal. least 100,000 years. SKB has been able to geological movements, each of which can • Highly accurate system demonstrate this through a monitoring be accessed via an online portal. Given the compensates for instru- programme conducted over three dec- stringent safety requirements SKB needs ment setting variance and ades, using data captured and analysed to comply with, the system has some very can correct sensor drift. by a web-based SCADA system devel- important key features: • Data anomalies are oped by AIS. • It captures data from a wide range of captured and explained to online and offline sources, successfully users, allowing results to be interpreted contextually. SCADA TO SUPPORT HYDRO- integrating both variants. GEOLOGICAL MODELLING • Some of the data loggers are located • Captured data can also be AIS has designed a highly customised, deep within underground boreholes quality graded to ensure that any data gathered real-time, asynchronous SCADA mon- and may have been monitoring condi- from unreliable instruments itoring system to enable the collection, tions since 1991. This data is combined is excluded from reporting viewing, aggregation and modelling of with surface readings, some of which – a very important system safety feature. hydro-geological data in support of SKB’s are taken manually by field researchers proposals. during short-time tests. Once the data • Allowed SKB to secure Buried deep within the bedrock, a va- has been aggregated, researchers have long-term public support for waste management riety of transducers and sensors are used a complete understanding of water proposals. to record a wide range of measurements, movements.

42 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 LANDFILL

Drilling off the jetty in Forsmark harbour to prepare for the extension.

• Raw values from data loggers are trans- applied to all the data, giving SKB the “AIS HAVE HELPED ferred to engineering values by apply- ability to hide unreliable sources and ing calibration calculations. These may exclude information below a standard US TO BUILD A vary over time as instrument settings quality level. WORLD FIRST WITH alter and the system is capable of cor- THIS MONITORING recting sensor drift. PUBLIC OPINION PROGRAMME, • Comments explaining anomalies With the complexities of the task at hand within the data can be captured and and the huge controversies involved with SUPPORTED BY A displayed on graph plots. Since data is the burial of nuclear waste, part of SKB’s BESPOKE SCADA being generated from different instru- task is to conduct an annual opinion poll SYSTEM THAT IS ments – known as channels – it was im- to measure the degree to which local res- HIGHLY FLEXIBLE portant for SKB to have the ability to idents would be in favour of the project, track discrepancies in multiple ways. should it go ahead in the future. AND RELIABLE. This means that a comment about re- In the latest polls, 80% of residents said THEY HAVE BEEN corded data will always be transferred they supported the construction of the INSTRUMENTAL across to different reports – accord- spent fuel repository in Forsmark, in the ing to the channel from which it was municipality of Östhammar. TO THE SUCCESS captured – so that results can be inter- This demonstrates that the data collec- OF THE SPENT preted contextually. tion and SCADA monitoring programme FUEL REPOSITORY • Data can also be graded with a ‘zero- developed by AIS has been successful in INITIATIVE AND centred’ quality rating ranging from enabling SKB to clearly communicate -2 for rejectable data to +3 for the the extent of risk mitigation being under- CONTINUE TO BE A highest quality. This ensures that any taken and the potential risks presented to VERY IMPORTANT data gathered from unreliable instru- residents. TECHNOLOGY ments is excluded from reporting. Although the project has not yet been PARTNER TO OUR Currently, quality ratings are added awarded building approval, the high de- manually, but in the future, SKB gree of public support means that SKB COMPANY.” plans to automate this process, using can retain its operating licence and con- statistical modelling to assign the val- tinue its important environmental re- Bertil Johansson ues. During reporting, filters can be search activities. Consultant at SKB

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 43 COLLECTION & HANDLING

WASTE COLLECTION GOES ORGANIC IN MADRID

FACTS 78,000 TONNES From January to September 2019, 78,000 tonnes of organic waste were collected at source. 47% Prior to separate collections, a resident’s non-recyclable ‘orange lid’ bin typically contained around 47% organic matter. 245,314 MWH In total, Valdemingómez Technol- ogy Park produces around 245,314 MWh of renewable energy per year.

44 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 COLLECTION & HANDLING

As it endeavours to meet the 50% EU recycling target, Spain’s capital city of Madrid has been specifically targeting the separate collection of organic waste since 2017. In November last year, the city rolled out its brown bin collection scheme to a further eight districts, leaving just the very centre to come online later this year…

By Ben Messenger

iven the relative weight of organic wastes com- pared to empty recycla- Gble packaging, such as aluminium cans and PET bottles, its separate collection seems a ‘no-brainer’ when trying to meet weight-based recycling targets. However, because of its somewhat messy and po- tentially odorous nature, that is not without its challenges. Recognising not only the impor- tance of collecting organic wastes to achieving its recycling targets, but also its wider environmental benefits, in 2017 Madrid City Council began roll- ing out separate collections to selected ‘pioneer’ areas of the city. The scheme was characterised by its containers with brown lids, into which the remains of food, home gardening, coffee and tea

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 45 COLLECTION & HANDLING

grounds, kitchen paper and dirty nap- 2020 when the last phase is completed WHAT HAPPENS TO THE kins, cork stoppers, matches and saw- with the Centro district. COLLECTED WASTE? dust can be deposited for daily collec- tion by the city’s ECO trucks. CITIZEN BUY-IN Once collected, the organic frac- Thanks to the involvement and col- Together with the installation of the tion is managed at facilities located laboration of citizens, the results of this new brown lid containers in the streets within Valdemingómez Technology Park, which features composting new selective collection were found to and neighbourhood communities, plants where organic matter is be very good, and in 2018 the collection Madrid City Council has launched an treated aerobically to become a was extended to 12 complete districts of information and environmental educa- natural fertiliser for use on land the city. tion campaign aimed at informing cit- and restoration of works. The facility also houses a biomethanisa- Then, as of 1 November 2019, five izens on the operation of the new col- tion anaerobic digestion complex, more districts joined the selective col- lection system, how to properly separate where biogas is produced for lection scheme – Fuencarral-El Pardo, the organic waste and the benefits of injection into the gas network and Retiro, Moratalaz, Carabanchel and recycling. digestate is also produced. Usera. A month later, Salamanca, To this end, since November a team Valdemingómez Technology Chamartín and Barajas were incorpo- of 16 environmental educators has Park features two dry anaerobic rated. This was the penultimate phase been informing businesses and build- digestion plants (Las Dehesas and of the progressive implementation ing supervisors in the newly added La Paloma) as well as an upgrading throughout the city that will end in areas about the system as well as plac- facility. Combined, these allow the plant to inject 6500 m3/h of bio- methane into the grid. Las Dehesas plant has a capacity of 218,000 tonnes per year and La Paloma ROLL OUT OF ORGANIC WASTE COLLECTIONS around 151,000 tonnes/year. ACROSS MADRID’S DISTRICTS SINCE 2017

The plant is owned by Madrid City Council and serves the whole city of Madrid and the neighbouring towns of Arganda and Rivas- Vaciamadrid. The centre also offers recycling facilities for other materi- als such as plastics, paper and glass bins, and methane capture from closed landfill area.

DURING 2017–2018 STARTING NOV. 2019 STARTING DEC. 2019 STARTING SEPT. 2020

The Centro district of Madrid will be the final piece in organics collection jigsaw for the Spanish capital, with brown bin collections starting in September this year.

46 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 COLLECTION & HANDLING

ing explanatory posters around resi- Different con- dential areas. Similarly, information tainer types are sessions have been open to the gen- used depending eral public, resident associations and on the building groups, and information stands have types, but all organic bins are been arranged at several points in the denoted by their eight districts. In January this year, ed- brown lids. ucational activities aimed at infants and primary and secondary school BEYOND MUNICIPAL COLLECTIONS students began across the eight new zones. While Madrid expands its separate organic collections, Starting this year, the city also began its commitment goes further with community projects to distributing new collection kits to the capture and use organic waste… public in the form of a new model of 10 litre bin for waste separation at home, MADRID AGROCOMPOSTA PROJECT SCHOOL GARDEN NETWORK is coor- together with information materials on collects organic waste for use at orchards dinated by Madrid City Council and inte- organic waste separation. The new bins on the outskirts of the city, where it is grates 154 educational centres, supporting are now lighter, use less plastic to man- transformed into organic fertiliser. The student learning on social and environ- ufacture, and are easier to use in smaller initiative was developed by Madrid City mental values including organic wastes. kitchens. Council and encourages schools, commu- Anyone in Madrid passing one of the nity urban gardens, municipal markets, COOPERATIVE COMPOST ASSOCIA- city’s booths can also request children’s platforms, citizens, associations and TION promotes self-managed community and adults’ guides on how to correctly cooperatives to participate. composting. separate waste, information leaflets in different languages, an informative HUERTO CITY LEARNING PROGRAMME URBAN GARDENS COMMUNITY magazine, a graphic summary together offers citizens resources and training for PROGRAMME is coordinated by Madrid with a fridge magnet and some fun pen- urban gardens and community centres as City Hall and involves around 50 urban cil holders. A wide variety of materials enclaves of social transformation. It was gardens, developing projects for environ- are available that cater for everyone and jointly developed by Madrid City Council. mental, social and educational purposes. their different needs.

THE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMME HAS and will increase the useful life of land- FOUR KEY THEMES: fills because they will take longer to fill.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT When decomposing in the environment, The city is keen to note that the selective organic waste forms liquids that can collection of organics creates new jobs contaminate the subsoil and aquifers. to cover the collection routes, as well as They also give off bad odours and emit in the biomethanisation and compost- methane, a greenhouse gas that has an ing plants. impact on climate change even greater than CO2. Residents are encouraged to EUROPEAN OBJECTIVES recycle organic matter to avoid these The European Union has set a target problems while producing biogas and of 50% of materials to be recovered fertiliser. through recycling by 2020. Currently, the city of Madrid recycles approx- EFFICIENCY AND SAVINGS imately 30% of the total amount of The separating and recycling of organic household waste it generates. The matter will improve the selective collec- council therefore points out to its cit- tion of other waste fractions such as pa- izens that while there is a long way to per, glass, plastics and metals. It also re- go, if it succeeds with organics it can sults in increased efficiency in treatment match other European cities.

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 47 ISWA INFORMATION Visit www.iswa.org for more information ISWA HEAD OFFICE OPENES AND ISWA WORLD CONGRESS TICKETS GO ON SALE

t’s certainly been a busy start survived but evolved over the last half to the new year for ISWA. On century. Monday 13 January our new Mayor Aboutaleb told a heartfelt IHead Office was officially opened by the story, which started in ordinary homes in Mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb. Rotterdam where his citizens struggled ISWA has moved its headquarters from Vienna to Rotterdam, where As the Erasmus Bridge lit up in ISWA to recycle, moved on to his experiences of on 13 January, Mayor Aboutaleb Green and the 23-floor KPN Headquarters the impacts of improper waste disposal in offered a warm welcome. displayed a welcome message for ISWA, parts of Colombia, and highlighted the our President Antonis Mavropoulos gave health issues caused by the lack of waste the opening words introducing ISWA and infrastructure in Indonesia. all we do. Aboutaleb voiced his appreciation for The ISWA General Secretariat is our arrival in Rotterdam as we symbolise now situated in the modern space of Rotterdam’s commitment to a circular TICKETS the CIC, within the historic Groot economy, and challenged us to save the Handelsgebouw. Our Managing Director world! Aboutaleb concluded his speech Register for tickets here Marc Tijhuis said a few words about the with a bang, declaring both the ISWA www.tinyurl.com/ujaxt6g history of ISWA and how, in many ways, offices and the official ticket launch for it has run parallel to the history of our the ISWA World Congress 2020 open by new historic building, having not just striking the CIC gong.

48 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 The objective of the event was to share ISWA’s local experience in the field with EU regulators, which are tasked with translating political ambi- tions into reality.

ISWA’s Circular Economy 2.0 Outreach Event a Winner in ISWA Brussels Calendar ISWA EU GROUP KICKS-OFF BRUSSELS The new Circular Economy Action Plan, expect- OUTREACH WITH SUCCESSFUL EVENT ON ed in March 2020, will take a product policy THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY 2.0 approach, looking at products throughout their entire life cycles and promoting reduce and 12 FEB WGRWM & WGBTW On 5 December 2019, the ISWA EU Group reuse of materials. Joint Meeting organised its first event in Brussels on the topic In parallel however, it is key to effectively Muscat, Oman of “Towards a Circular Economy 2.0: Combining implement the existing legislative framework: ambition with reality”. in the second session, participants heard again 18 – 22 MAY The event attracted over 50 participants from the European Commission and from the ISWA Study-Tour not only from ISWA membership but also from European Environment Agency about the state Collection – Sorting – Recycling the European Commission and the EU Member of play of the implementation and current Italy States, as well as representatives from industry challenges. and NGOs. Lively discussions also followed the presen- 28 – 30 SEP The objective of the event was to share tations by the City of Rotterdam, Optibag (pre- ISWA Annual World ISWA’s local experience in the field with EU regu- senting the experience of the City of Oslo) and Congress 2020 Rotterdam, Netherlands lators, which are tasked with translating political CEWEP, which introduced the local realities and ambitions into reality. Participants first heard the opportunities and challenges for communi- from ISWA EU Group Chair and event moderator ties and industries towards a circular economy. Joachim Quoden on the ambitions of the ISWA In the context of the forthcoming EU initia- EU Group as regards best-practise sharing at tives on circular economy and waste, as well EU level, followed by a presentation of Hakan as of the national implementation of existing Rylander on the associations ongoing lighthouse legislation, ISWA’s expertise is a valuable asset, projects on marine litter and closing dumpsites. and a such ISWA is keen to continue the good Martin Brocklehurst, representative of ISWA’s discussions with EU policy makers and Brussels British member CIWM, gave the political picture stakeholders and vice versa. from ISWA’s more global point of view, whereas Thanks to all speakers and participants speakers from the European Commission and for making our first event such a success! The For more events and details the upcoming Council Presidency of Croatia presentations from this event are available on please go to www.iswa.org or introduced forthcoming initiatives at EU level. demand. scan the QR code.

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD 49 COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT

China has long been seen as a destination for poor quality plastic material for recycling. Following its National Sword policy to tackle that issue the country is now seeking to reduce its domestic production of single-use plastics destined CHINA for the waste stream. China is set to ban or restrict production, sales and use of disposable plastic products via three stages in the next five years. John Richardson, Senior Consultant, Asia at the commodity market intelligence provider ICIS, offers some analysis.

he policy proposed in China ex- “FOR AROUND In parallel, there are reports that China is plicitly prohibits the production TWO YEARS to modernise its plastics recycling business Tand sale of products including ultra-thin plas- as a means of reducing dependence on im- tic bags with a thickness of less than 0.025 NOW, THE ported virgin resins and adding value to its mm and polyethylene agricultural mulch INDICATIONS economy. The current local recycling industry with a thickness of less than 0.01 mm. By is, on the whole, highly disorganised and in- the end of 2020, the production and sale of HAVE BEEN efficient. disposable foam plastic tableware, disposable THAT CHINA China’s polymers or plastics demand is plastic cotton swabs, and the production of HAS BEEN by volume the biggest in the world and its daily chemical products containing plastic growth is also the largest. China is the big- microbeads will also be phased out. TAKING ITS gest polymer import market in the world, It all started with the heavy restrictions PLASTIC especially for polyethylene, around half of the that China introduced in January 2018 on im- RUBBISH demand for which is in single-use plastics. So, ports of mixed, highly polluted scrap plastic. whatever happens in China is a big deal for That was the first major sign that China, as CRISIS VERY the global polymers business. part of wider environmental commitment, SERIOUSLY.” For around two years now, the indications was taking the plastics-waste issue seriously. have been that China has been taking its plas- Subsequently, conversations with senior tic rubbish crisis very seriously. The first indi- petrochemical industry executives with con- cations of this were the heavy restrictions it nections to the Chinese government sug- placed on imported, unsorted and uncleaned gested that China wanted to go further – by plastics that came into effect from January tackling the much bigger problem of local 2018. China was the dumping ground for plastic rubbish. The problem is that plastic plastic waste from the West. It introduced the rubbish is adding to China’s shortage of po- restrictions to better protect the health of table water, as of course lots of the plastic recycling workers. rubbish is ending up in rivers, contaminating Subsequently, there were indications that the water supply. China would start tackling its local plastic It therefore seemed likely that bans of rubbish problem through introducing bans single-use plastic would be introduced and on single-use plastic that had little societal so there is no real surprise that the bans have John Richardson value and modernising a pretty disorganised been announced. Senior Consultant, ICIS and inefficient local recycling sector.

50 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 ISWA WORLD CONGRESS 28 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2020, WORLD TRADE CENTER ROTTERDAM

The ISWA World Congress is the most prestigious international congress for the waste management sector, and Rotterdam is proud to host and organise the congress in 2020, in partnership with the NVRD. In 2020, the congress will focus on a wide range of issues such as separate collection and recycling, waste treatment, marine litter and the circular economy. These issues align with Rotterdam’s ambition to lead the pack when it comes to the circular economy. By 2050, waste will no longer exist in our city.

The ISWA World Congress is a global meeting which includes high level plenaries as well as technical site visits and a cultural and social programme. The ISWA 2020 will create an interactive environment where waste management professionals, government officials, industry leaders, policy makers, scientists and young profes­ sionals meet to exchange views and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for sustainable waste management.

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