Guidelines to Increased Collection of Plastic Packaging Waste from Households

Guidelines to increased collection of plastic packaging waste from households

THE NORDIC REGION – leading in green growth Guidelines to increased collection of plastic packaging waste from households

ISBN 978-92-893-3952-0 (PRINT) ISBN 978-92-893-3953-7 (PDF) http://dx.doi.org/10.6027/ANP2015-712 ANP 2015:712 © Nordic Council of Ministers 2015 Authors: Anna Fråne, Åsa Stenmarck, Stefán Gíslason, Søren Løkke, Malin zu Castell Rüdenhausen, Hanne L Raadal and Margareta Wahlström Layout: Gitte Wejnold Cover photo: SignElements Photo: SignElements Print: Rosendahls-Schultz Grafisk Typeface: Meta LF

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2 Guidelines to increased collection of plastic packaging waste from households

Authors: Anna Fråne, Åsa Stenmarck, Stefán Gíslason, Søren Løkke, Malin zu Castell Rüdenhausen, Hanne L Raadal and Margareta Wahlström 4 Introduction

Unsorted plastic packaging waste in The intended target groups for the These guidelines have been residual waste fractions represent guidelines are primarily the actors developed within the project one of the largest potentials for responsible for the collection Improvements in existing collection increased collection and recycling of of plastic packaging waste in the and recycling systems for plastic plastic packaging in the Nordic Nordic region. from households and other MSW countries. To exploit this potential on behalf of the Nordic Council of there must be a well-functioning Instead of trying to identify a “one- Ministers. The guidelines are written infrastructure targeted on collecting size fits all” collection system, the by IVL Swedish Environmental plastic packaging waste. guidelines provide information to Research Institute, Ostfold Research, facilitate the decision on how plastic VTT Technical Research Centre of The guidelines were compiled as part packaging waste is best collected at Finland, Aalborg University and of the Nordic Prime Ministers’ green a local level. Local circumstances, Environice. Background information growth initiative, The Nordic Region such as the organisation of the to the guidelines, as well as – leading in green growth. The waste management, local targets on complete references are found in the initiative identifies eight priorities waste management and how long report Background information to aimed at greening the Nordic the solutions for waste management the guidelines – Improvements in economies, one of which is to have been in place, require/demand the existing collection and recycling develop innovative technologies and different solutions. systems for plastic waste from methods for waste treatment. households and other MSW sources. The guidelines cover both single- The aim of these guidelines is to family homes and apartment The guidelines are part of the Nordic inspire and give recommendations buildings, both in densely and Prime Ministers’ overall green on how plastic packaging waste sparsely populated areas. Deposit growth initiative: The Nordic Region can be collected, and how different return systems for PET bottles are – leading in green growth - read aspects concerning collection of not covered in the guidelines. more in the web magazine Green plastic packaging can be taken Growth the Nordic Way at www. into account. The guidelines are The guidelines have taken the nordicway.org or at www.norden. based on Nordic experience in order existing collection systems for org/greengrowth. to encourage knowledge transfer plastic packaging waste for recycling and give examples of how plastic in the Nordic region as a starting The authors would like to thank all of packaging waste is collected in the point, and thus start with a brief those who have contributed with Nordic region. description of each of them. After information to the guidelines. that, the collection systems are evaluated according to a number of aspects that are found valuable for a collection system to fulfill.

5 Collection of plastic packaging waste

Collection of plastic packaging waste There are different levels of source- are on-going trials, and a region in for recycling in the Nordic region is sorting, which all have in common eastern Finland is already using the based on three main principles: that the households make an effort system. to sort their waste in a certain 1. Kerbside collection of source- manner. Plastic packaging waste The principle of multi-compartment sorted plastic packaging waste: can either be source-sorted into a bins is that different waste fractions • in multi-compartment bins single stream, e.g. into a fraction for have its own compartment in the • in separate containers or plastic packaging waste only, or into same bin. The bin is divided into transparent plastic bags a fraction containing other recyclable compartments instead of having • in coloured bags prior to optical materials or plastic waste other than separate bins for different waste colour sorting packaging. fractions as multiple bins would increase the space required. 2. Bring systems of source- Kerbside collection of source- sorted plastic packaging waste sorted plastic packaging waste Source-sorting of plastic packaging Kerbside collection systems are waste in multi-compartment 3. Kerbside collection of mixed widely used in the Nordic region. The bins usually takes place in a bin waste subject to central sorting waste can be either sourcesorted containing four fractions. Each or part of mixed waste fractions. household normally has two bins The meaning of kerbside collection is Different practical solutions are (370 L each), and source-sort not explicit, but in the guidelines the used for collecting plastic packaging their waste into eight fractions in definition of kerbside collection is a waste at the kerb. total. A common collection frequency collection system where households is every second week for the bin are able to discard their plastic Multi-compartment bins containing food waste and residual packaging waste within the Collection of source-sorted waste and once every month for boundaries of the estate. Kerbside plastic packaging waste in multi- the other bin. The collection system collection systems are opposite to compartment bins is becoming a is primarily designed for single- bring systems not for public use. more widespread solution in family homes. Example of multi- Swedish and Danish municipalities, compartment bins, and the and also in Åland. In Finland there organisation of compartments:

Paper Plastic Food waste Residual packaging packaging 120 L waste waste 140 l waste 140 l 160 L

Coloured Transparent Metal glass Newsprint glass packaging packaging 60 L packaging waste 45 l waste waste 45 l 30 l

Figure 1. Example of compartment organisation for multi-compartment bins (eight fractions). Source: Trelleborg municipality.

6 The use of multi-compartment bins in bin is a supplement to a bin for food Multi-compartment bins are collected Denmark is different to the solution waste, and a bin for residual waste. with special, rear-loaded vehicles with eight compartments. Bins with four-compartments containing four compartments. It is, A predominant type in Denmark are also used in Denmark, where depending on the compartment is to use a two-compartment, 180 two large compartments are used organisation, in some cases possible liter bin, where the household sorts for paper and plastic waste, and two to empty traditional waste bins in the waste into two fractions: smaller for metal and glass waste. multi-compartment vehicles. This is • Paper, cardboard, and plastic foils In Åland only rigid plastic packaging useful when multi-compartment • Plastic, glass, and metal packaging waste is source-sorted in the multi- bins are not used by all households. compartment bins, not flexible The two fractions are sorted into plastic packaging waste. material fractions after collection. In general, the two-compartment

Use of multi-compartment bins in the Nordic region

Denmark No figures available

Finland Used to a small extent, no figures available

Iceland Not used

Norway Used to a small extent, no figures available

Sweden Available in 271 municipalities

Åland 2000 households in 16 municipalities2

1 Avfall Sverige (2014). Införande av system för fastighetsnära insamling av förpackningar och returpapper. Guide nr 6. Trelleborg and Härnösand municipality introduced the system in 2014. 2 Ålands Renhållning (2014). Personal communication with Robert Nylund.

7 Figure 2. A multi-compartment vehicle. Source: NTM (2014).

Remember Härnösand – the first Swedish municipality The compartments in a multi-compartment bin can north of Stockholm introducing multi- be organised differently. The organisation should compartment bins be made with foresight as a change of organisation can be time-consuming and challenging in terms of Härnösand has around 24 500 inhabitants and communication. The composition of the household has offered every single-family home a multi- waste, collection frequency and waste management compartment bin since May 2014. The choice goals in the municipality should be taken into fell on multi-compartment bins due to the high account when deciding on a final organisation of service level the collection system offers and compartments. the positive results in collected amounts and quality of the source-sorted waste fractions. The It is recommended to use one of the larger single-family homes can choose between multi- compartments for plastic packaging waste. The reason compartment bins or a separate bin for food is that the volume of the flexible plastic packaging waste and another for residual waste. waste can cause problems when emptying the bin if a small compartment is used. There are many examples About 63 percent of the single-family homes of municipalities where a too small compartment have until now chosen multi-compartment bins. is used for plastic packaging waste. As a result the The extra collection costs for having multi- households are informed by the municipality to throw compartment bins are spread out on the total flexible plastic packaging in the residual waste. There amount of households. The extra cost for the are practical solutions on the market to compress the multi-compartment bins is around 20 euros per flexible plastic packaging waste at home. Information year. They estimate that they can empty 250 – to households on how to compress the flexible plastic 275 bins per day and plan to empty the vehicle packaging waste might also be a solution, even if a twice a day. larger compartment is used.

8 Separate containers or transparent The practical solutions have different to separate bins are underground plastic bags appearances, but all of them can containers, which are frequently In densely populated areas with a accommodate relatively high used in larger cities. Underground high number of apartment buildings amounts of plastic packaging waste. containers can also be part of an and multi-family housing it might Separate bins for plastic packaging automated collection system based be unpractical to have private waste waste (140 to 660 liters) are the on vacuum technology. bins for each household. Therefore most common solution for apartment joint solutions are common in such buildings in Sweden, whereas the The collection frequency varies areas. These solutions are usually major solution in Norway is the use depending on the size of bins designed for individual apartment of transparent plastic bags, which and the number of households. buildings, but can also be found in are left next to the ordinary waste Transparent plastic bags are usually areas with single-family homes. bins. The containers and plastic collected every fourth week. It is The system can be shared among the bags are placed indoors or outdoors, common to use single- or double- households in either one, or several usually close to where residual waste compartment collection vehicles. apartment buildings. is normally discarded. An alternative

Figure 3. Typical plastic bags (140 liters) in Norway. Source: Grønt Punkt Norge.

9 The green bin on Iceland with the appearance of a traditional The green bins are emptied by a In several municipalities in Iceland waste bin, is a kerbside collection collection vehicle used solely for this the households are equipped with a system designed for collection of purpose and brought to a central separate bin for kerbside collection plastic packaging waste, paper sorting facility where the material is of plastic packaging waste (most packaging waste and metal waste. roughly sorted into plastic, metals often referred to as the “green bin”) The plastic packaging waste is to be and in one or more category of or alternatively with a few bins or a left in the bin in transparent plastic paper/cartridges. small container in the case of multi- bags and the same applies to metal family dwellings. The “green bin”, waste.

Use of separate bins or transparent plastic bags in the Nordic region

Denmark Used, but no overall figures available

Finland Not used

Iceland 11% of the population lives in one of 13 municipalities offering the collection system3

Norway 67% of the population lives in a municipality offering the collection system3

Sweden Used, but no overall figures available

Åland Used, but no overall figures available

3 Fråne, Stenmarck, Gíslason, Lyng, Løkke, zu Castell-Rüdenhausen Wahlström (2014). Improvements in existing collection and recycling systems for plastic waste from households and other MSW sources. Nordic Council of Ministers. TemaNord 2014:543.

10 Figure 4. Examples of underground containers in Sweden (Source: Sansac AB).

11 Coloured bags prior to optical use six fractions (one municipality in readers that identify the color of colour sorting Sweden and at least one in Norway). each bag. The bags are pushed into This collection system is based The fractions are commonly plastic separate containers and opened. on source-sorting in specifically packaging waste, metal packaging Depending on the material the coloured plastic bags where one waste, paper packaging waste, fractions are either sent to further colour is used for plastic packaging newsprint, residual waste and sorting (e.g plastic packaging waste), waste. The coloured plastics bags food waste or varieties of these. to recycling, to biogas production are thrown in the same container Transparent and colored glass are or to incineration. This kerbside and transported by a single- discarded at recycling stations to collection system is used in several compartment vehicle to a sorting avoid the breaking of glass and municipalities in Norway and in one facility where the bags are optically contamination of other waste municipality in Sweden. A higher colour sorted into the different fractions. number of municipalities uses fractions. Plastic packaging waste optical colour sorting, but not for can be one of three to six fractions. It In the sorting facility the coloured collection and separation of plastic is however, rare that municipalities bags are transported to optical packaging waste.

Use of coloured bags prior to optical sorting in the Nordic region

Denmark Not used

Finland Not used

Iceland Not used

Norway 18% of the population lives in one of 26 municipalities offering the collection system4

Sweden Around 20 000 households in one municipality, 0.5% of the total population5

Åland Not used

4 Fråne, Stenmarck, Gíslason, Lyng, Løkke, zu Castell-Rüdenhausen Wahlström (2014). Improvements in existing collection and recycling systems for plastic waste from households and other MSW sources. Nordic Council of Ministers. TemaNord 2014:543. 5 Eskilstuna Energi & Miljö (2014). Sopsortering-villa. http://www.eem.se/privat/atervinning/ villa/. 1 household ≈2.22 inhabitants.

12 Figure 5. Source: Eskilstuna Energi & Miljö (2014) Right: Source: Avfallsservice (2014).

13 Kerbside collection of mixed Rælingen, Skedsmo and Sørum packaging waste is placed in the waste subject to central sorting within the intermunicipal same bin as bags with food waste. Central sorting of mixed waste is collaboration ROAF. Paper and cardboard is source- developing in Europe. In the Nordic sorted and thrown in a second bin. region, central sorting where plastic Norwegians with access to the Glass and metal packaging waste waste is sorted out from mixed waste system discard plastic packaging is collected by bring systems. only currently exists in Norway, and non-packaging small plastic Households in single-family homes where the first central sorting plant items waste in the relatively dry as well as in apartment buildings opened in 2013. It is owned by the mixed waste fraction as food waste is have access to the system. eight municipalities Enebakk, Fet, placed in a separate bag (green). The Gjerdrum, Lørenskog, Nittedal, mixed waste bag, containing plastic

Kerbside collection Bring system

Residual waste bin Bin for paper and Glass packaaging cardboard Metal packaging Bag with food waste

Bag with Plastic packaging residual waste waste

Mixed waste sorting Plans for the South West region in Norway Plastic bags with food waste and bags with Five intermunicipal companies, covering 23 mixed waste are separated at the central municipalities and about 300 000 inhabitants in the sorting facility by optical readers, based on south west of Norway, have decided to invest in a central the colours of the bags. Using NIR technology, sorting plant based on the same technology as in the the plastic packaging waste is sorted out from ROAF municipalities. One major difference, however, the rest of the mixed waste into five different compared to the ROAF plant, is that this plant will polymers such as low density polyethylene implement one further step of the recycling value chain (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), by including the extrusion of the sorted LDPE, HDPE and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and PP plastics into granulates. Thus, this recycled plastics polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene sulfonate granulate can be sold directly to plastic manufacturers. (PSS). The sorted plastic polymers are sent The PET and PS plastics will be sent to external recycling to recycling plants. Source-sorted plastic plants due to different melting points. The plant is packaging waste undergoes similar sorting by scheduled to start operating in 2016. polymer.

14 Bring systems live in apartment buildings or single- packaging waste fractions. This Use of bring systems in the Nordic family homes. collection system is used both for countries is widespread. These single-family homes and apartment public drop-off points include other There are two major varieties of buildings. packaging waste fractions, where drop-off points: 2. Manned recycling centrals where people bring their source-sorted 1. Recycling stations where packaging waste and other waste plastic packaging waste. At these packaging waste fractions are fractions can be discarded. points people can deliver their discarded. The recycling stations source-sorted plastic packaging are equipped with large containers waste regardless of whether they (above or underground) for different

Figure 6. Examples of unmanned recycling stations in Sweden (top, source: FTI AB) and Finland (source: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland).

15 Use of bring systems in the Nordic region

Denmark Available in all 98 municipalities

Finland Available in some municipalities

Iceland Available in almost all municipalities (74 in total)

Norway Available in all municipalities (428 in total)

Sweden Available in almost all 290 municipalities

Åland Available in all 16 municipalities

Where to place public drop-off points The location of drop-off points is important. They should be strategically placed where people do their daily business and at places where people naturally pass. FTI in Sweden previously motivated establishment of unmanned recycling stations in areas with at least 500 inhabitants and a supermarket open all year. The decision is now rather based on local circumstances. The establishment of a new recycling station can e.g. be motivated if the collection vehicle passes the area on its normal route.

16 17 Aspects to consider when evaluating a collection system

Deciding on the best collection Collected amounts source-sorting as a percentage of system for plastic packaging waste It is easy to concentrate on the all available plastic packaging for a municipality or a region can collected amount of plastic waste. seem overwhelming, which is why it packaging waste as it is a measurable is important to know where to start. parameter. However, it does not • Do not only look at the collected One first step could be to look at tell the whole truth about the amounts but also try to evaluate existing collection systems, gather performance of a collection system, the quality of the collected information about each one of them, which is important to bear in mind. material. Highly contaminated and sort the information under It is also crucial to look at the plastic packaging waste fractions relevant aspects. In these guidelines total amount of generated plastic might give the impression that we have limited the scope and packaging waste and try to find out a high amount is collected, but looked more deeply at the following the fraction that is captured by the the weight may in fact include aspects: collection system. a lot of moisture, dirt and other Practical aspects about collected contaminants. • Collected amounts amounts: • Quality of the collected material • Food waste highly influences the • Economic aspects • Both the amount of collected percentage of plastic packaging • Environmental impact plastic packaging waste, and waste in residual waste fractions, • Service level and communication the amount of unsorted plastic so the amount of plastic packaging • Flexibility packaging waste in residual waste waste in kilos should preferably be fractions should be taken into looked at as well. account to find out a rate of

18 • Pay attention to the fact that • Collection of plastic packaging number of drop-off stations has not statistics on collected amounts of waste is not a stand-alone activity, been taken into account. plastic packaging waste from bring but part of the entire waste systems in touristic municipalities management system. In general, a higher amount of might be misleading as the plastic packaging waste is collected generation of plastic packaging Parameters influencing the by kerbside collection, but there waste is diverted from one collected amounts are examples of municipalities with municipality to another. The unit Kerbside collection tends to favour bring systems collecting more than “kg per citizen” is less robust in the amounts of collected plastic that. Communication to households sparsely populated municipalities packaging waste compared to bring about recycling is crucial no matter than in more densely populated systems, according to studies from the type of collection system. ones as a single or a couple of Sweden and Norway. However, the incorrect measurements are results are based on the current enough to create a significant situation, which means that the change in the measure. impact of a potential increase in the

Examples of measured collected amounts of plastic packaging waste from different kinds of collection systems:

Way of collecting plastic pack- Collected amount per person and year (kg/person) (year 2013)* aging waste

1. Kerbside collection of source- Denmark Finland Iceland Norway Sweden sorted plastic packaging waste

1.1 In multi-compartment bins No figures No figures Not used No figures 7 and117 available available available

1.2 In separate containers or No figures Not used No figures 0.9 – 14.79 5,14 and transparent plastic bags available available (average 7.1) 128

1.3 In coloured bags prior to Not used Not used Not used 2.9 – 7.19 1110 optical colour sorting (average 4)

2. Bring systems 0.08-2011 No figures Not used 0.7 – 6.39 3.512 available (average 4)

3. Kerbside collection of mixed Not used Not used Not used 13.513 Not used waste subject to central sorting

7 Based on figures from Västblekinge Miljö AB (year 2013), NSR AB (year 2014). 8 Avfall Sverige (2014). Införande av system för fastighetsnära insamling av förpackningar och returpapper. Guide nr 6. Figures from Familjebostäder Göteborg (year 2011), Renhållningen Kristianstad (year 2013) and Mimer, Västerås (year 2011 and 2012). 9 Grønt Punkt Norge (2014). Statistics plastic packaging households. 10 Avfall Sverige (2014). Införande av system för fastighetsnära insamling av förpackningar och returpapper. Guide nr 6. 11 Approximate values for plastic waste collected at recycling centres based on the DEPA waste database. The figures do include plastic waste from small business. 12 FTI AB (2014). Personal communication with Annica Dahlberg. Average value collected from bring systems. The figure is not statistically proven. 13 ROAF (2014). Personal communication with Telco Øyvind Brevik, Managing Director at ROAF. When assuming the average share of contaminants in kerbside systems in Norway (9.2%), this collected amount corresponds to a ”kerbside collection” of 14.7 kg/person, year, which equals the best registered figures from kerbside systems in Norway. * The figures refer to the collected amounts of the fraction plastic packaging waste. Contaminants are not considered.

19 Unsorted plastic packaging looking at median values from a waste left in mixed waste high number of waste analyses. fractions Median values should be regarded Swedish experience shows that as “average” values whereas multi-compartment bins seem to minimum and maximum values generate the lowest share of show the distribution in the results. unsorted packaging waste residing Data from other Nordic countries in the mixed waste fraction (source- are examples of results from single sorting of food waste applied) when analyses.

20 Way of collecting Amount and share of unsorted plastic packaging waste in residual waste fractions15

Denmark Finland Iceland Norway Sweden

1. Kerbside % kg (per %) kg (per % kg (per % kg (per % kg (per collection person person person person person of source-sorted and and and and and plastic packaging year year year) year) year) waste

1.1 In multi- No figures No figures Not used No figures 12.116 7.716 compartment bins available available available

1.2 In separate No figures No figures No figures 12.218 11.418 No figures containers or available available available and and available transparent 16.518 20.218 plastic bags

1.3 In coloured No figures Not used Not used 10.820 13.720 15.516 No bags prior to available figures optical colour availa- sorting ble

2. Bring systems 5.417 10.219 No figures No figures 12.218 11.418 13.816 14.116 available available and and 16.518 20.218

3. Kerbside Not used Not used Not used Not relevant in this Not used collection of mixed context as plastic waste subject to packaging waste is central sorting part of the residual waste fraction

15 Data includes moisture and dirt. 16 Avfall Sverige(2011). Nationell kartläggning av plockanalyser av hushållens kärl- och säckavfall. Report U2011:04. Median value based on waste analyses. Separate collection of food waste. 17 Miljøstyrelsen (2012). Kortlægning af dagrenovation i enfamilieboliger. Miljøprojekt nr. 1414, Miljøstyrelsen. 5.4% corresponds to 190 g/person/week. 18 IVAR IKS (2011). Plukkanalyser husholdningsavfall 2011, Asplan Viak, 1/2011-06-29. 19 Miljøstyrelsen (2012). Kortlægning af dagrenovation i enfamilieboliger. Miljøprojekt nr. 1414, Miljøstyrelsen. 20 Plukkanalyse 2012 En analyse av husholdningsavfall fra henteordninger i Grenland, http://rig.no/nyttig-aa-vite/statistikk-oganalyser/plukkanalyser/plukkanalyse-2012

21 Quality of the collected material amount of plastic packaging waste How much of the source-sorted A collection system where as much actually recycled. The reasons for collected amounts of plastic plastic packaging waste as possible this are multifold and are explained packaging waste is actually is collected is desirable, but not by the fact that the collected plastic packaging waste? at the expense of the quality of amounts: It is not possible to answer the the material. First of all, the term question for the entire Nordic “quality of the material” has to • contain contaminants attached to region, but in Sweden the average be defined. The key question is the plastic packaging waste such content of plastic packaging waste how much of the collected plastic as food waste, moisture, paper is 72 percent of the collected plastic packaging waste is actually sent to labels etc. packaging waste fraction. Around recycling. The quality has also to 16 percent is non-packaging plastic do with the purity of the material, • contain non-plastic material that is waste and the remaining 12 percent i.e. how much contaminants the incorrectly sorted at source. non-plastic waste as seen in collected material contains. (Figure 7)20. • contain plastic types that cannot It is more or less impossible to be separated for recycling by the In addition to this, the 72 percent collect completely pure and clean technique used at the sorting share of plastic packaging waste plastic packaging waste. A certain facilities. contains moisture and dirt such amount of contaminants will always as food. According to the study, follow. The amounts collected will Additionally, losses of plastic do about 8 percent of the weight of the therefore not correspond to the occur in the sorting processes. plastic packaging waste consisted

Figure 7. Composition of collected amounts of the fraction named plastic packaging waste (left), and the composition of the actual plastic packaging waste fraction (right).

20 Dahlén L, Vukicevic S, Tapper M. (2013). Återvinning av plast från hushållsavfall Insamlingsresultat och kvalitet av källsorterad plast. Average of both kerbside collection and bring systems, source-sorted amounts.

22 of these kinds of contaminants. Does the collection system influence Norwegian experience shows that Thus, pure plastic packaging the quality of the collected plastic the purity of plastic packaging waste accounted for only 66 percent (92% packaging waste? collected through both kerbside of the 76%) of the plastic packaging The answer to the question is yes; and bring systems varies. Grønt waste. Some of the non-packaging the collection system does influence Punkt Norge collects data about waste can be subject to recycling the quality of the collected material. the amount of contaminants in the (same polymers as the packaging The problem is to find out how and to source-sorted plastic packaging waste). Assuming that the entire what extent the quality differs. waste. Updated average data for amount of non-packaging plastic 2013 for the amount of contaminants waste is subject to recycling, the The area is not extensively studied, in the different collection systems figure increases to around 80 but in a Swedish study kerbside are: 12%, for kerbside collection percent (taking moisture and dirt into collection in single-family homes was with transparent plastic bags, 10%, account). When comparing collection shown to generate plastic packaging for kerbside collection with coloured systems, collecting rates and waste with less contamination bags prior to optical colour sorting recycling rates, it is very important compared to plastic packaging waste and 20% for bring systems. to be aware of what kind of data is sorted out through the bring system. actually being compared. The quality of plastic packaging waste sorted out by kerbside collection from apartment buildings was varying.

23 Economic aspects unfortunately not that simple as • Every major change in the waste Implementing a collection system local conditions in the specific management system might require for plastic packaging waste has municipality needs to be taken into extra staff at the introduction economic consequences no matter account. Instead of recommending stage for communicating the how the waste is being collected. Any one system over another, we have change to the households as well change in the existing waste chosen to give some general as staff for more practical duties management system naturally recommendations on aspects such as distributing bins etc. results in changes in the economic that are important to consider calculation, both in terms of and include in a calculation to • A change in the waste costs and in terms of income. It is economically evaluate a collection management system often generally difficult to separately look system: requires changes to the actual at a single waste stream as the collection method or system. It is economic aspects for waste • One of the aims of introducing likely that changes in the management is dependent on kerbside collection of plastic system will lead to changes in the entire system. It is also hard packaging waste is to increase collection costs, including cost of to allocate, or even know the the source-sorting of plastic transportation. costs and incomes related to one packaging waste and thus avoid waste fraction, as for example a plastic packaging waste in the Collection of plastic packaging waste municipality planning to introduce mixed, unsorted waste fractions. will most likely include investment kerbside collection in multi- Achieving this would mean that costs, operational costs such as compartment bins is inevitably also the amount of mixed waste collection of the waste, maintenance introducing a new waste collection decreases and so also the costs as well as costs for information system for many other waste treatment costs for the mixed and administration. These costs fractions at the same time. waste. can again typically not be allocated to plastic packaging waste only. Economical evaluation of a • Kerbside collection of plastic The unique overall costs for each collection system packaging waste might generate collection system are listed below. It would be desirable if income for the collected material, The figures should be seen as recommendations could be given either from the EPR organisations indicative. whether a certain collection system or by own sales (depending on is more economically feasible than local circumstances in the Nordic another. However the reality is region).

24 Investment costs Operational costs Comments

Kerbside collection of source-sorted plastic packaging waste:

in multi- Investments in: Maintenance of bins A multi-compartment bin (370 L, three wheels, two compartment bins (increased number of insets, four compartments) costs around 165 euros in multi-compartment bins bins) comparison to a 370 L ordinary waste bin to the cost of around 110 euro21. four-compartment Changed costs vehicles associated with A vehicle for emptying multi-compartment bins costs collecting/trans- in general between 280 000 – 290 000 euro21. solution for compress- portation ing the flexible plastic Some municipalities with multi-compartment bins packaging waste (not distribute so-called minimizers to the households to compulsory). be used for compressing the flexible plastic packaging waste at home. The minimizers cost around 8 euros each21.

in separate containers or Investments in: Purchase of: The price of the optical sorting facility of Eskilstuna transparent plastic bags with a capacity to sort 20 000 – 30 000 tonnes per containers transparent plastic bags year was 5.2 million Euro. The municipality built the facility on their own land and reused old buildings and ollection vehicles Changed costs process equipment to keep the costs down. A similar associated with facility for a municipality with around 500 000 inhabit- collecting/ ants would cost around 11 million euro22. transportation Plastic bags (0.03 euro per bag23). Eskilstuna municipality estimates that every household uses 240 plastic bags per year.

Bring systems Investments in Waste collection The collection costs for bring systems is in general containers lower than for kerbside collection of plastic packaging Maintenance costs waste. This is explained by the fact that the time for Preparation of the piece (cleaning and snow emptying a multi-compartment bin is longer of land e.g. asphalt clearance) than for emptying a traditional bin, and that there are covering a higher number of collection points.

Asphalt covering costs around 3200 euro per recycling station, and the maintenance costs 150 – 200 euro per year (excluding snow clearance).24

Kerbside collection of Investments in a central mixed waste subject to sorting plant central sorting

21 NTM (2014). Personal communication with Gert Olsson. 22 Göteborgs stad (2012). Fastighetsnära insamling. Litteraturstudie 2012.

23 Göteborgs stad (2012). Fastighetsnära insamling. Litteraturstudie 2012. 24 Kojo (2010). Uuden jätelainsäädännön mukaisten keräysverkostovaati- musten kustannusvaikutukset pakkausten jätehuollossa.

25 On the income-side there will be • PET: bottles clear 350 – 400 ¤/t, waste to incineration was in Norway revenues from selling the collected bottles mixed color (>90 % bottles) in 2012 1100 NOK per tonne28 packaging waste fractions, including 200 – 250 ¤/tonne, PET mixed (134 EUR). The average cost in plastic packaging waste if possible. bottles/trays (50%/50%) 20-50 ¤/ Sweden was 500 SEK per tonne in The prices for secondary plastic raw tonne 2013 (55 EUR)29. In Finland the cost material are commonly the same no seems to be around 80 and 90 EUR matter if the polymers are sor-ted out • High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): per tonne. The relationship between from source-sorted sources or from 260 – 300 ¤/tonne the costs and revenues depends on centrally sorted mixed waste, given • Polypropylene (PP): 180 – 220 ¤/ the amount collected, the quality that the quality is the same (which tonne of the collected amounts, the local it commonly is). Indicative prices for • Polystyrene (PS): 100 – 150¤/ treatment cost for mixed waste, the sorted household plastic waste are27: tonne market prices for recycled plastics, and how the rest of the waste • Low-Density polyethylene (LDPE) Treatment costs for mixed household management is organised. film: 40 – 60 ¤/tonne (mixed waste will also be reduced if the total color), 200 – 250 ¤/tonne mass is reduced. The average cost (transparent/white). to send a tonne of mixed household

Cost savings in transport when collecting high quality material High quality of the source-sorted collected plastic packaging waste is important from an economic point of view. Low purity of the collected plastic packaging waste results in transportation of material that belongs to other waste fractions. An estimate of the cost savings can be obtained by calculating the costs for the unnecessary treatment when the share of contaminants decreases. Another significant factor influencing the transport costs is the density of the material, that the transport of air is avoided as much as possible.

27 Tomra (2014). Personal communication with Oliver Lambertz. 28 Avfall Norge (2014). Status for energiutnyttelse av avfall i Norge. Report 3/2014. 29 Avfall Sverige (2014). Svensk avfallshantering 2013.

26 27 Environmental impact Transportation has generally a minor comes to service level. Recycling of plastic packaging waste environmental impact compared to In the guidelines we have defined is generally more environmentally the above mentioned aspects. How the service level according to beneficial than incineration plastic packaging waste is collected two aspects that are known to be according to Nordic LCA studies. The does not therefore determine the valuable for households: environmental impact should be overall environmental impact of the evaluated at a system level, taking system. Increased transport distance 1. Physical availability – the into account the way of collection, can be motivated if the amounts distance to discard plastic the recycling processes and the and quality of plastic packaging packaging waste for households replacement of virgin raw materials. waste increase. The impact is The most important parameters for thus obviously greater for higher 2. User friendliness – is the system reducing the environmental impact transport distances why the system easily understandable and logical? for a collection and recycling system design should try to avoid this, e.g. at a system level are: to avoid that people drive to drop- The described collection systems off points only to recycle and not on are evaluated in terms of current • to create a system that maximizes their way to something else. service level according to a number the percentage of plastic of questions under each of the two packaging waste being collected Service level and communication aspects. Different ways of collecting plastic • to collect material of high quality packaging waste correspond to to limit the amount of rejects in the a certain level of service for the following sorting and processes households. The current legislation on plastic packaging waste in • that the recycled plastics replace the Nordic countries does not virgin raw materials to the highest distinguish between sparsely and degree possible densely populated areas when it

Case Finnish Lappland A case study conducted by the Finnish Environment Institute SYKE assessed the life cycle impacts of packaging waste collection in northern Finland, Finland’s most sparsely populated area. One of the main questions of the study was to find out if separate collection of packaging waste is reasonable in remote and sparsely populated areas.

The study compared separate collection and sorting of plastic packaging waste to recycling to collection of mixed waste subject to incineration and substituting peat as the main fuel. The results from the study indicate that source-sorting of plastic packaging waste is beneficial from an environmental point of view compared to collection of mixed waste to incineration, even in remote, sparsely populated areas.

28 Kerbside collection of source-sorted plastic Bring systems Kerbside packaging waste collection of mixed waste subject to central sorting

In multi- In separate In coloured compartment containers or plastic bags bins transparent prior to optical plastic bags colour sorting

Physical availability:

Possibility to discard plastic Yes Yes Yes No Yes packaging waste within the boundaries of the estate?

Is there need for extra bins at the Yes Yes (separate No No No property? containers) NO (transparent plastic bags)

Possibility to discard packaging Yes Yes Yes No (but would Yes waste, mixed waste and food waste at be possible in the same place? theory)

Need for space for source-sorted Medium Medium High Medium Low fractions at home

User friendliness:

Can rigid and flexible plastic Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes packaging waste be part of the same fraction?

Need to separate plastic packaging Yes Yes Yes Yes No waste from the mixed waste?

Accessible for both single- family Yes (but is Yes (but is Yes (but is Yes Yes homes and apartment buildings? currently not currently not currently not common for common for common for apartment single-family apartment buildings) homes) buildings)

29 Communication to households • Information about the has to perceive the source as The results of a collection system environmental benefit of source- trustworthy, reliable and relevant. based on source-sorting of plastic sorting – your effort makes a The power to motivate a change in packaging waste depend on the difference. behaviour is also dependent on the consumers’ attitude and willingness perceived expertise of the source towards source-sorting. Getting the • That the collection system is easily of information, the recognition and consumer engaged might be one of understandable and user-friendly. identification. the top challenges with collection systems based on source-sorting. • To be able to place rigid and 2. Use two combined/supportive Only a fraction of the information flexible plastic packaging together types of information. Inform about households receive is actually paid in the same fraction the effects and consequences of the attention to. The likeliness that the behavior, e.g. the benefits of source- information leads to a change in • Short distances to discard sorting plastic packaging waste, and behaviour or intensifies the existing source-sorted plastic packaging. describe how to do it in practical behaviour is rather low. These are terms. challenges that the generator of • Higher costs for unsorted mixed information needs to be aware of, waste favours source-sorting. 3. Communicate what happens and the reason why information with the plastic packaging waste. should be carefully developed. Recommendations on how to What households often lack is successfully communicate to information about how the source- Well-known aspects that influence households: sorted material is taken care of after the tendency to source-sort more collection, to be assured that plastic packaging waste are: 1. Consider the source of their efforts are appreciated, information. First of all, the receiver independent of the collection

30 system. It has been shown that mind that one solution does not fit 7. Use short, relevant and distinct knowledge about the fate of the everybody. It is important to consider information. The layout and structure plastic packaging waste is lower how to communicate information of the information is important as than for other packaging waste to the younger generation, older it is hard to get the households fractions. generations, people from foreign to pay attention to certain origin (especially people who information. Visual information 4. Focus the communication on perhaps do not speak the language), could have advantages above target groups. This can be done by etc. information containing dense texts. analysing the source of the waste There might not be an interest to and the motivation needs of the 6. Pay special attention when search for information about the target group. Information targeted on the collection system is relatively collection system, which means households in apartment buildings anonymous. Devoted communication that information about plastic might for example not be relevant is especially important when the packaging, on TV, radio, on public for households in single-family collection systems are public or transport etc. is a good complement homes. Communication towards accessible to a high number of to internetbased information. Face- target groups is also about making people, such as bring systems and to-face communication has actually sure that the information that is separate containers or transparent proven to be the most effective specific and easily recognizable, bags for apartment buildings. method to spread the word. such as rules applicable in an actual Kerbside collection systems where residential area. each household has their own bin or disposal solution provide by its 5. Different demographic groups existence information about the seek information from different possibility to source-sort the waste. sources, so it is important to keep in

31 Flexibility • How flexible is the technical • Is it possible to collect both non- The flexibility is about how easy it setup (practical solutions, sorting packaging plastic waste and is to change the collection system equipment, collection vehicles plastic packaging waste together? when the surrounding circumstances etc.) if the collection system is no How does a higher number of change. This applies e.g. to longer required? plastic waste fractions influence changes in other parts of the waste the collection system? management chain or to changes in • Will the system be capable national or international legislation. of handling increased collected We have compared the collection Questions that should be asked amounts of plastic packaging systems by putting a value on the before implementing a certain waste? level of flexibility according to the collection system for plastic questions above. The evaluation is packaging waste are: by no means complete, but there to highlight the importance to consider the flexibility of a certain collection system.

1. Kerbside collection of source-sorted plastic packaging waste:

Level of f Explanation lexibility

1.1 In multi-compartment bins

Technical setup Medium Bins: The inset in the bin can be removed, and the bin converted to a “traditional” waste bin. The alternative use of multi-compartment vehicles is limited.

Vehicles: It is possible to use the same vehicle for emptying ordinary waste bins if the compartments are organised in a certain manner.

Adaptation to increased collected amounts High Increased collection of plastic packaging waste requires a higher collection frequency or a higher number of bins.

Adaptation to increased number of source-sorted Low The number of fractions is currently limited to four plastic packaging waste fractions per bin. It is thus common to have two bins with a total of eight fractions. More fractions would require another bin or another structure of the waste fractions.

Collection of both plastic packaging and non- High Change in collected amounts needs to be paid packaging waste in the same fraction attention to as well as the risk of introducing hazardous substances in the recycling system.

32 Level of Explanation flexibility

1.2 In separate containers or transparent plastic bags

Technical setup High Bins: Ordinary waste bins can be used.

Vehicles: Standard single-or two-compartment vehicles are used enabling emptying of bins with different sizes.

Adaptation to increased collected amounts High Increased collection of plastic packaging waste requires a higher collection frequency or a higher number of bins.

Adaptation to increased number of source-sorted High Another bin or plastic bag can be added. plastic packaging waste fractions

Collection of plastic packaging and non-packaging High Change in collected amounts needs to be paid waste in the same fraction attention to as well as the risk of introducing hazardous substances in the recycling system.

1.3 In coloured bags prior to optical colour sorting

Technical setup Medium Bins: Ordinary waste bins can be used.

Vehicles: Ordinary collection vehicles can be used.

Sorting facility: Optical sorting requires investments in sorting plants making the systems less flexible towards external changes as it is costly to change to another collection system where optical colour sorting is not used. It is however possible to adapt the sorting lines to a higher or lower number of fractions.

Adaptation to increased collected amounts High Increased collection of plastic packaging waste requires a higher collection frequency or a higher number of bins.

Adaptation to increased number of source-sorted High Another coloured bag dedicated to a new waste plastic packaging waste fractions fraction can be added and sorted out at the optical sorting facility.

33 2. Bring systems

Level off Explanation lexibility

Technical setup High The collection vehicles and containers are of standard type and could find other uses.

Adaptation to increased collected amounts High Change to larger containers is possible. If a higher number of drop-off stations is needed it can be challenging to find areas for establishment in densely populated urban areas. A higher collection frequency is also a part of the solution.

Adaptation to increased number of source-sorted High Another container can be added. plastic packaging waste fractions

3. Kerbside collection of mixed waste subject to central sorting

Technical setup Low Bins: Ordinary waste bins can be used.

Vehicles: Ordinary collection vehicles can be used.

Sorting facility: The central sorting facility requires investments making the systems less flexible towards external changes as it is costly to change to a source- sorting collection system.

Adaptation to increased collected amounts High Increased collection of plastic packaging waste requires a higher collection frequency or a higher number of bins. The same waste flows are still collected together.

Adaptation to increased number of source-sorted Not relevant Plastic packaging waste is not source-sorted within plastic packaging waste fractions the system.

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