2/2020 The Magazine for 6. Volume Business Opportunities 24,- EURO GLOBAL & International Markets

After the Covid-19 4 Pandemic: Visions for Economic Recovery

Goal: A Closed Loop 14 for Styrenics

Brazil: Challenges 20 for the Future

Waste Management 24 in Vietnam: The Race Is on

Unlocking the Value 33 of “Hidden” Metals

Applying Standards 36 to the Circular Economy global-recycling.info 31st August – 5th September 2020 EDITORIAL

No Sustainability without Recycling

The coronavirus pandemic has negatively affected the life and activities of millions of people around the world. Lockdown and social distance require- ments, a decline in demand, disruptions in value chains, the global downfall of economic performance and unemployment are consequences of the crisis. Thus, it is hardly surprising that probably everybody wants to know when the pandemic will end.

No one knows when that will be. Until the fight against the virus is over, pro- tection measures are highly recommended. That also applies to face masks, which are said to become the next sought-after fashion accessory. These prod- ucts can also be made from recycled as – for example – fashion students of the LCI Barcelona (Spain) and the manufacturer Ballo in Cape Town (South Africa) have demonstrated. These masks combine fashion with recycling and sustainability. Brigitte Weber Editor-in-Chief According to some experts, the economic recovery could take more than a year. The Dutch banking group ING has warned that the world’s economy is unlikely to return to pre-pandemic levels before 2022 at the earliest. In the opinion of the World Bank Group, the recovery phase can help build prosperity and resilience by contributing to the long-term potential and sustainability of a country’s development pathway. “There are encouraging signs from some countries – including China, Germany and South Korea – that are looking at green elements as part of their recovery.”

Sustainability is the most frequently mentioned way to cope with the econom- ic damage. The management and recycling industries can make a major contribution to achieve this goal. The companies of this sector turn waste into raw materials while saving greenhouse gas emissions and energy. As the Bu- reau of International Recycling (BIR) described in its 2019 Annual Report, the

carbon dioxide (CO2) emission savings achieved through recycling are signifi- cant: “Aluminium > 92 %, Copper > 65 %, Ferrous > 58 %, Paper > 18 %, Nickel > 90 %, Zinc > 76 %, Lead > 99 %, Tin > 99 %.” Another example: The recycling rates for used are still low in Europe (26 %), China (15 %), United States of America (12 %) and Hong Kong (4 %).

Some visions for the economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic are pre- sented on page 4. Furthermore, the company INEOS Styrolution informs about the intended closed loop for styrenics (page 14). Additional topics are Brazil’s challenges for the future (page20), Vietnam’s (page 24) and European solutions concerning textile recycling (from page 29 onwards), to name but a few.

We hope you get a lot of new and useful information from reading this current magazine.

Furthermore, we would like to introduce our new Recycling Expo and Confer- ence for the recycling industry “eREC” to you (have a look at the page on the left side). The new expo is a virtual platform to network with each other. We kindly invite you to be there as an exhibitor or visitor.

Yours, Brigitte Weber ([email protected]) Cover Photo: Benjamin Von Wong

GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 1 THIS ISSUE

BUSINESS CHANCES 14 03 BIR’s Global eForum: Business Activity despite the Virus 04 After the Covid-19 Pandemic: Visions for Economic Recovery 06 The Global Metal Recycling Market 07 Decreasing Lithium-Ion Battery Prices Present Opportunities 08 Indonesia’s Multistakeholder Action Plan 09 PUR-Recycling towards a Smart Circular Economy 10 Fluorescent Markers Poised to Address Sorting Challenges

NEWSFLASH 12 Wrap Film Made from Recycled Material 12 Furniture Upholstery from Recycled Waste 12 New Member 12 USA: Recycling Market Development Platform 20 ENTERPRISES 13 Europe: Initiative to Close the Glass Loop 14 Goal: A Closed Loop for Styrenics 16 Polystyrene – Made for Recycling like no other 17 Money for Circular Economy 18 Paper Packaging: New Action Group in Europe 18 New Food Waste Processing Facility in Indonesia 19 Facility in Riyadh to Be fully Operational by July

MARKETS 20 Brazil: Challenges for the Future 24 24 Waste Management in Vietnam: The Race Is on 29 The Fibersort Project 30 The Artist and his Commitment 31 Textile Recycling in Finland 32 Sweden: Large-Scale Automated Textile Sorting Facility 32 Collection Made of Recycled Materials 33 Unlocking the Value of “Hidden” Metals 34 Switzerland Helps to Boost Egypt’s E-Waste Recycling Industry 35 SCIP – The New ECHA-Database for Substances of Concern 35 USA: Recycling of Coal Mine Equipment 36 Applying Standards to the Circular Economy 37 Portugal Suspends Waste Imports 41 MACHINERY 38 Global Launch on a Digital Platform 39 Artificial Intelligence: The Recycling Revolution 40 ADuro Shredders: New Product Line for Recycling 41 Cross Wrap Helps to Update Recycling Operations

43 EVENTS 44 IMPRINT

2 global-recycling.info BUSINESS CHANCES

BIR’s Global eForum: Business Activity despite the Virus

he lockdown and the social dis- trade because – in general – relatively Ttance requirements because of the small volumes were currently being coronavirus pandemic had prevented shipped to Asia. A switch in Europe the BIR convention in Istanbul in from “over-supply” to “over- May – but the Bureau of International demand” had intensified the focus on Recycling has found a solution. supplying more local markets.

To inform its members about the latest Providing a plastics and rubber per- developments, the global eForum was spective, Max Craipeau of Greencore created. The series of online webinars Resources Limited (Hong Kong) agreed ran from June 3 to June 23, and each that many multi-national companies focused on the specific commodity based in the USA, Europe, Japan and covered by the world recycling asso- South Korea were already looking to ciation. This virtual event began with move manufacturing operations from the session of the International Trade China to other countries in the region. Council, moderated by its Chairman However, “you cannot switch such a Michael Lion of Everwell Resources Ltd huge production capacity overnight” (China), and the theme was “Spotlight and so the process could take “months On Global Trade - The impact of Pan- or years”, he is convinced. demic on Global Markets”. An impor- tant realization was, for example, that BIR’s president Tom Bird expressed his international trade still takes place; in recent months as result of increased opinion that – after the pandemic – the however, the material volumes are surcharges. trend to transfer industrial manufac- low. The same applies to collection turing capacities from China to other rates. Mark Sellier of Global Metals Network countries would intensify. That would Limited (Hong Kong) emphasized be going to be an interesting period. China that in line with the many businesses taking “a very conservative approach” India With regard to present and future to risk at present, his own company markets, the People’s Republic of favors secure payment before re- George Adams of SA Recycling (USA) China is still an economically influ- linquishing title to goods. Business identified the “tough” lockdown in ential country; the attendees feel conditions had been made more chal- India as the biggest overseas trade confident, that there will be a national lenging because it was not possible issue to emerge during the pandemic stimulus package after the pandemic. to visit customers’ yards/factories or as it led to bank closures and docks China would continue to be “a major to assess such factors as stock levels, being unavailable. Endorsing this factor” in the global marketplace as a he reported. However, his business assessment, Greg Schnitzer of fellow consumer of materials, David Chiao of was looking to maintain regular direct US company Schnitzer Indus- Uni-All Group (USA) is convinced. He contact with customers through video tries, Inc. added that “all markets are also pointed out that the country with links. available today” and that the situation new classification after July*) would in India was also easing. “Hopefully, not consume mixed metal but Furthermore, there had been “con- we’ve seen the worst of it and we’re metal products. In view of internation- siderable difficulties” in obtaining coming out of this,” he said. “We’re

Photo: Gerd Altmann / Pixabay al trade, a container shortage earlier CCIC-certification (China Certification beginning to see demand pick up.” in the pandemic has ended, Chiao & Inspection Group) in some parts

informed. He expects that a further of Europe because of travel restric- *) According to the latest BIR World Mirror on container equipment imbalance could tions and office closures, Mark Sellier non-ferrous metals the standards for recycling materials for brass, copper and cast aluminium emerge in another month or so as informed. Against this backdrop, alloys were implemented in July this year. The Chinese exporters were experiencing a Sébastien Ricard of Paprec (France) respective recycling materials “that have been growing shortage. Despite a drop in oil said that no real issues had arisen with pre-processed abroad and meet the quality standards of raw material products will be man- prices, freight rates had headed higher CCIC-certification with regard to fiber aged according to product import rules”.

GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 3 BUSINESS CHANCES

After the Covid-19 Pandemic: Visions for Economic Recovery

he coronavirus pandemic has dev- Tastated communities and econo- mies around the world through the global decline in demand, disruptions in value chains and a deterioration in financial conditions.

Governments around the world are taking measures to cope with the eco- nomic damage. The most frequently mentioned way to do this is sustain- ability and environmental protection. According to Angel Gurría, Secretary General of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Develop- ment), “governments have a unique chance for a green and inclusive recov- ery that they must seize – a recovery that not only provides income and jobs, but also has broader well-being goals at its core, integrates strong climate and biodiversity action, and builds resilience”. In his opinion, stim- ment said. 500 billion Euro would be the new Circular Economy Action Plan ulus packages need to be aligned with distributed in grants. Intention is that at the forefront of the post Covid-19 ambitious policies to tackle climate the funds will be used to reach the recovery in the EU. change and environmental damage. EU’s objectives of climate neutrality “Only such an approach can deliver and digital transformation, to offer The association representatives win-win-win policies for people, planet social and employment support as stressed – in a statement issued to- and prosperity.” well as to reinforce the EU’s role as a gether with the joint call – the key role global player. played by Europe’s recycling industry The European Union is on the same in turning waste into valuable raw page. In May, the European Commis- The proposals are subject to negotia- materials while saving greenhouse sion presented in European Parlia- tions between the Parliament and the gas emissions and energy. Not only ment a 750 billion Euro economic Member States in the Council. for EuRIC President Cinzia Vezzosi, it is stimulus plan that – along with a re- vital to use the momentum of the post vised proposal for the EU‘s 2021-2027 Plea for the “Green Deal” Covid-19 crisis to direct a significant budget amounting to 1.1 trillion Euro part of massive public investments – should help mitigate the shock from If the European Member States accept towards circular industrial value the coronavirus pandemic and pave the suggestions, the three associa- chains and infrastructures needed to the way for a sustainable future. Part tions representing waste manage- make Europe climate-neutral by 2050. of this solution is the Next Generation ment and recycling industries at In that respect, the joint call highlights EU recovery plan that aims to address European level – EuRIC (European the importance of prioritizing certain the damage caused by the pandemic Recycling Industries Confederation), measures aiming at: and invest in a green, digital, social FEAD (European Federation of Waste — Stimulating the demand for second- and more resilient EU. “Under the pro- Management and Environmental ary raw materials through incen- Photo: Marc Weigert posal, the Commission would borrow Services) and CEWEP (Confederation tives, their greenhouse gas emis- the money on the financial markets of European Waste-to-Energy Plants) – sions and energy savings, recycled using its high credit rating, which will have achieved an important aim. content targets and green public should secure low borrowing costs,” In May, the organizations had issued procurement to bridge circular the information provided by the Parlia- a joint call to put the Green Deal and economy and climate policy;

4 global-recycling.info BUSINESS CHANCES

— Further strengthening the internal infusing resilient, long-term climate tion of nearly 11.5 trillion US-Dollar market and, in particular, fasten the solutions into future economic re- and more than three million employ- creation of a well-functioning EU covery plans.” Amid the backdrop of ees in the USA. “The companies and market for secondary raw materials Covid-19 and the full recognition that investors calling for climate action thanks to simplified waste shipment the safety, health and well-being of all as part of economic recovery efforts procedures and EU-wide end-of- citizens is the most immediate priority, span across the American economy, waste criteria; ‘LEAD on Climate 2020’ was the largest including retailers, manufacturers, — Speeding up work on eco-design to ever call to action from the business healthcare services, food and bever- ensure that tomorrow’s products community to the US Congress on the age companies, outdoors industries, will last longer and be easier to ongoing climate crisis, Ceres said. Spe- technology companies and energy recycle when reaching end-of-life; cifically, the businesses advocate for: providers,” Ceres stressed. “The high — Enhancing investment certainty — An accelerated transition to a - level of participation is notable given by implementing current recycling zero emissions economy by 2050 or the disruption most of the companies targets and resuming a fact-based sooner; and investors are experiencing due to discussion on proper treatment — More investment in resilient infra- the economic collapse, as well as the of unrecyclable waste in Europe, structure; current social distancing constraints through energy-recovery or final — Effective climate solutions - includ- on in-person advocacy.” This increased disposal. ing those that fully leverage the job corporate and investor policy engage- opportunities of zero-carbon indus- ment comes at a time when the con- US Businesses wish a resilient tries; sequences of the climate crisis have and sustainable economy — Support for longer-term, market- never been clearer or more dire, Ceres wide policy mechanisms such as a stated. Last year, carbon dioxide levels Also in the USA, major companies price on carbon. in the atmosphere were at their high- stand up for a more sustainable econo- est levels in at least the last 800,000 my after the Covid-19 crisis. According As reported, the participating busi- years, and the World Meteorological to Ceres – a sustainability nonprofit nesses include more than a dozen For- Organization (WMO) recently found organization working with the most tune 500 firms as well as trade associa- that the last decade was the hottest on influential investors and companies – tions, medium and small businesses record. “As US and global emissions CEOs and representatives from more from all 50 states, collectively repre- have steadily grown over the years, so than 330 businesses called in May on senting combined annual revenues has corporate and investor ambition “a bipartisan group of federal lawmak- of more than one trillion US-Dollar in to reduce emissions – even amidst the ers to build back a better economy by revenue, a combined market valua- current pandemic.” BUSINESS CHANCES The Global Metal Recycling Market

he rising demand for recycled globe in the past few years and The global supply of recycled metals Tmetals in automotives along with growing conscious of sustainable fell during the first months of the year the building and construction sec- development has encouraged the 2020 due to the coronavirus. “The de- tor are driving the purchase interest, segment’s end users to use more mand plummeted in China, and then says market research and consulting recycled metals.” the rest of the world as the pandemic company Reports and Data. The global — The demand for steel was slow in led to industries and factories shut- metal recycling market is forecast to China in the year 2018, but it corre- ting down. It also hit a pause button grow at a rate of 7.0 percent – in terms sponded with a rise in the rest of the on consumer spending”, the market of value – from 2020 to reach 86.11 world, mainly due to the then strong intelligence and strategic consulting billion US-Dollar by 2027, according to economy in the USA. Increased firm gave account. “The infrastructure a new report by the USA-based firm. consumer spending, as well as busi- sector is not expected to witness any “An increase in energy savings with ness confidence, had led to a solid growth in the wake of the virus.” The decreased greenhouse gas emis- product demand. “This boosted the consumers all around the world would sion levels and increasing consumer demand for recycled metals in the face reduced or lost income. awareness regarding it are driving the North American region.” market for recycled metal”, the report — Manufacturers are witnessing an Rapid recovery informs. increase in prices for copper, steel and other raw materials, mainly due According to the estimation, the One of the reasons why the market is to the Coronavirus pandemic. “This market is expected to have a rapid growing would be the high demand is going to make the recycled metal recovery after the pandemic. This for steel and rapid industrialization more appealing as the process of is possible based on pent-up con- and urbanization in emerging na- recycling is far less expensive than sumer demand – after stay-at-home tions. “Moreover, increased concerns mining for ore.” orders are rescinded – the company towards the exhaustion of natural is convinced. But that scenario is not resources at a faster rate have led gov- Barriers to market growth guaranteed as there is an element of ernments across the globe to formu- recovery involving not only the return late favorable regulations concerning Factors that will restrict the global of positive household consumer senti- the metal recycling industry, which is market are the unorganized flow of ment but also the ability and willing- further boosting the metal recycling waste metals and less scrap collection ness of governments around the world market.” According to the company, zones, Reports and Data expects. The to inject money into infrastructure and also the scarcity of rare-earth metals increasing cost of raw materials would other public works projects. would provide a growth opportunity also hinder the demand along with for the market. high labor charges. Furthermore, there w www.reportsanddata.com/report- is the worldwide impact of Covid-19: detail/metal-recycling-market Further key findings suggest: — The demand for ferrous material in metal recycling is growing. The us- age of it in several products is high. For instance, in the year 2018, the recycling rates for ferrous scrap in cars was 106 percent, for structural steel 98 percent, for appliances 90 percent, for reinforcement steel 70 percent and for steel cans 66.8 percent. — The dominant end-user of the

recycled metal was the building and Foto: Diana Betz construction industry. It held the largest market share of 35.1 percent in 2019. “The increased ongoing construction activity all across the

6 global-recycling.info BUSINESS CHANCES Decreasing Lithium-Ion Battery Prices Present Opportunities

he Irish company Research and However, technological advancements TMarkets has added the report in battery technologies are restraining “Global Market 2020- the global battery recycling market’s 2028” to its offering. growth. Besides, lack of supply chain and low yield in battery recycling is According to the analysis, this global affecting the market growth. Fur- market is predicted to grow at a thermore, safety issues regarding the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) storage and transportation of used of 9.10 percent from 2020 to 2028. batteries are challenging the growth of It is boosted by increasing concerns the battery recycling market. among countries on battery waste disposal coupled with strict rules and The market report covers the countries regulations. “The growing adoption from Latin America, Europe, North of electric vehicles that majorly use government subsidies provided to America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle Photo: O. Kürth lithium-ion batteries is another major encourage battery recycling and the East and Africa. factor driving the market growth”, the declining lithium-ion battery costs are information said. “Moreover, a high creating immense opportunities for w www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ recycling gap between batteries, the the battery recycling market.” idhsj0

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GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 7 BUSINESS CHANCES Indonesia’s Multistakeholder Action Plan

n April this year the national strategy generated within Indonesia, the analy- Idocument “Radically Reducing Plas- sis said. The situation is expected to tic Pollution in Indonesia: A Multistake- worsen in the next years. holder Action Plan” was published. Needed: action and investments As reported by World Economic Forum, the plan lays out an evidence- According to the information, the based roadmap towards reducing the Action Plan compares two possible amount of plastic leakage into the outcomes for the Republic of Indo- country’s coastal waters by 70 percent nesia: one is the “business as usual” by 2025, as well as achieving near- scenario, in which plastic pollution is zero plastic pollution by 2040 through projected to increase by one-third to transitioning to a circular economy for 6.1 million tons in 2025 and more than plastics. double by 2040, even if the plastic rates keep pace with “Indonesia’s unprecedented national a growing waste generation. The effort to take on plastic pollution is crossing a new frontier in what is possible”, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, About the Action Plan Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, wrote in the According to the World Economic Forum, the delivery of the Action Plan - preface to the document. “Working resents a significant milestone in the work of the Indonesia National Plastic from the basis of a radical idea, we Action Partnership (NPAP), the nation’s leading multi-stakeholder platform have created a platform – the Indone- for shaping a unified and effective approach to tackling plastic pollution sia National Plastic Action Partnership and waste. It was launched one year ago by the Government of Indonesia in (NPAP) – to mobilize willpower from collaboration with the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), the flagship all sectors and identify a clear path plastic action platform at the World Economic Forum, and is hosted at World towards our goal to show that plastic Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia in Jakarta. pollution is not too complex or too enormous a challenge to overcome.” The Indonesia NPAP comprises over 230 member organizations from In this context, he invites “all to join us national and local government, the business and investment community, on this journey. As Indonesia puts this civil society and youth advocacy groups, foreign diplomatic missions, and plan into action, we look forward to research and academia. To translate the recommendations in the Action sharing our knowledge and to learning Plan into concrete action, its members have formed five new task forces on from others on bringing solutions and policy, innovation, financing, behavior change, and metrics, in addition to successes to scale”. continuing to address plastic pollution and waste through their respective institutions. As reported, urgent action is needed to turn the tide of plastic waste and The analysis and scenario methodology for developing the Action Plan pollution in Indonesia. 70 percent were adapted from global research conducted by The Pew Charitable Trusts of the country’s plastic waste – an and SYSTEMIQ, which will be published in full later this year under the title estimated 4.8 million tons per year – is “Breaking the Plastic Wave”. considered mismanaged in ways such

as being openly burned (48 percent), Source: World Economic Forum The Action Plan was shaped through close consultation and collaboration dumped on land or in poorly man- with leading plastic waste and plastic pollution experts in Indonesia, includ- aged official dumpsites (13 percent) or ing members of the Indonesia NPAP Steering Board, NPAP Expert Panel, leaking into waterways and the ocean Government of Indonesia, and other key stakeholders. (9 percent or 620,000 tons). Despite a

sharp growth in foreign waste im- w https://globalplasticaction.org/wp-content/uploads/NPAP-Indonesia- ports in 2018, more than 95 percent Multistakeholder-Action-Plan_April-2020.pdf of plastic pollution comes from waste

8 global-recycling.info BUSINESS CHANCES

other is the System Change Scenario — Doubling plastic waste collection — Building or expanding controlled (SCS), which would enact a series of from 39 to more than 80 percent by waste disposal facilities to safely ambitious, society-wide transforma- 2025 by boosting state-funded and manage non-recyclable plastic waste. tions, including the following five key informal or private-sector collec- interventions: tion systems; this implies expanding The reduction of plastics in the ocean — Reducing or substituting avoidable plastic waste collection to four mil- until 2025 would require a total capital plastic usage to prevent the con- lion new households each year until investment of 5.1 billion US-Dollar and sumption of more than one million 2025. an operational funding budget of 1.1 tons of plastics per year by switching — Doubling current recycling capac- billion US-Dollar/year in 2025 to run an to and new delivery models, ity by building or expanding plastic effective waste management and re- changing behaviors and replacing sorting and recycling facilities to cycling system, the strategy document plastics with alternative materials process an additional 975,000 tons said. Under the System Change Sce- that yield improved environmental of plastics per year. To achieve that nario, Indonesia is expected to prevent outcomes. by 2025, large-scale recycling hubs 16 million tons of plastics entering — Redesigning plastic products and need to be strengthened in Java and its coastal waters, create more than packaging with reuse or recycling in developed in urban centers outside 150,000 jobs and significantly improve mind. of Java. public health outcomes.

PUR-Recycling towards a Smart Circular Economy

he European PUReSmart project, Twhich started in January 2019 and will end in December 2022, explores new methods, technologies and approaches in order to transform poly- urethane (PU) into a circular material.

The project consortium consists of nine partners and develops smart sort- ing technologies to separate a diverse range of PU materials into dedicated feedstocks; these will be broken down into their basic components as inputs for existing PU products, and as raw materials for a newly designed polymer that merges the durability of thermosets with the circularity of thermoplastics.

As reported on the PUReSmart homepage, after twelve months, the on a process with complete recov- options are rather limited, the project consortium could achieve “break- ery of not only the polyol but also of will bring new solutions to recover Source: Ayming / PUReSmart through steps”. The development of the isocyanate precursors (amines), valuable raw materials out of EoL new chemistries to obtain covalent which will hopefully lead to the first materials to be re-used to make a new adaptable polyurethanes (CAPU’s) is recycled isocyanate in the world”, the generation of CAPU foams. This will moving forward. Also, the work regard- consortium underlined. “The impact close the loop and create opportuni- ing the development of innovative of PUReSmart is extremely important ties for a circular economy.” sorting methods is moving ahead. in the treatment of End-of-Life (EoL) “The PUReSmart project is working PU products. As today the recycling w www.puresmart.eu

GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 9 BUSINESS CHANCES Fluorescent Markers Poised to Address Sorting Challenges

¢ by Professor Edward Kosior

recent Greenpeace report claim- Aing that some US companies are incorrectly labeling plastic products as recyclable reinforces the urgent need for improved sorting and identification solutions. As the report points out, many MRFs (Materials Recovery Facil- ity) only accept PET and HDPE due to insufficient processing capabilities, a situation for which there now is a ground-breaking solution.

First, let’s look at one of the main is- sues, Polypropylene (PP). Whilst the packaging industry has invested in marketing PP as recyclable, not being able to differentiate between a food packaging applications like crates and went to recycling facilities. The rest tray, soup pot and a fertilizer tub this bins or, worse, goes straight to landfills landed at incinerators or landfills. obviously hampers the full recycling or incinerators. Food grade plastic has been the most potential of PP. complex to obtain due to the risks of The issue is a global one. The Euro- using second-hand plastics containing According to the Greenpeace report, pean Plastics Converters Association toxic chemicals that are potentially only 53 percent of surveyed MRFs take (EuPC) reported that almost 60 per- dangerous to human health. Now an PP, and only 31 percent of US residents cent of the European plastics convert- innovative identification technology is have access to PP collection. The ing companies find it hard to get a being deployed to separate plastic to stumbling block is that recyclers need supply of recycled plastics materials food-grade quality in one single step, to be able to identify a pack’s past that meet their quality standards. thereby radically transforming the history during the sorting process, sorting process in recycling facilities. and with no effective way of separat- According to a 2019 report by the A British consortium has developed ing food grade from non-food grade European Commission, of the 27.1 a technology that can rapidly and polymers – little wonder – most of million tons of plastic waste collected efficiently distinguish between food- it ends up being recycled into non- in Europe in 2016, only 31.1 percent grade and non-food-grade polymers, identify black plastics and tag full- length shrink-sleeves.

Plastic Packaging Recycling using Intelligent Separation technologies for Materials (PRISM) applies high performing luminescent materials to labels on plastic packaging, creating what is best described as an invisible barcode for plastics recycling. The process is simple. Fluorescent markers – produced from materials recovered from fluorescent lamp recycling and Photos: PRISM non-rare earth-based compounds – are printed on labels or plastic pack- aging sleeves. As the mixed plastic

10 global-recycling.info BUSINESS CHANCES waste runs along the conveyor belt the 95 percent for PET. That meets EFSA’s high-speed sorting system is triggered British Consortium of PRISM (European Food Safety Authority) by an ultraviolet (UV) light source that Partners stipulated 95 percent purity for PET identifies the coded PRISM label and — Nextek – PRISM project manager food-grade plastic in a single sorting reads his code, and air propels it into and recycling R&D step. Other polymers such as PP may the appropriate recycling stream. — Brunel University London – require two steps of sorting and can Wolfson Material Processing reach upwards of 99 percent purity. Following extensive trials, PRISM is Luminescent expertise That is a significant step forward in now well proven in MRF setups and is — CCL Labels – Multi-national label the sub-categorization of plastics, plug & play ready. It is complementary maker which are sorted automatically at high to existing NIR (Near Infrared) technol- — Enlightened Lamp Recycling – speed, and it opens up a wealth of new ogy and can easily be adapted to most Fluorescent lamp recyclers opportunities for brand-owners wish- sorting facilities around the world to — Johnson Matthey – Specialty ing to recover their packaging as part target specific recycling streams such chemicals, catalysis and process of the circular economy. as food contact plastic packaging. The technology innovative technology uses traditional — Mirage Inks – Leading manu- Trials have been successfully con- labeling and branding methods and is facturer for printing inks for ducted with recycling organizations designed to identify a host of different packaging applications and brand owners, and the next stages materials applying multiple markers — Tomra Sorting – World leader in of commercialization are in progress. for a wide range of codes. These mark- automatic detection systems PRISM is set to become a vital step- ers can be removed during recycling — WRAP UK – Leading waste and ping stone towards improved sorting leaving no traces for the next cycle resources charity UK capacity and should provide a much- of use. Even the most challenging needed impetus to the struggling plastic waste can now be sorted at full Video: w www.youtube.com/ recycling sector. speed of two tons per hour to over 96 watch?v=R8_c3LdAzvo percent purity with a yield in excess of w www.nextek.org

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GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 11 NEWSFLASH Wrap Film Made from Recycled Material olish company FOL-GOS is offering founded in 2012. From the beginning, tive tests of our film with other com- Pecological stretch films suitable the company has been involved in the petitive films (domestic and foreign) for wrapping waste, which are made of production of stretch film. produced from primary raw materials recycled materials and are recyclable confirmed our good quality and us- as well. As reported, the multilayer The manufacturer cooperates with able parameters of our film, compa- structure of the products (stretch-abil- the Center for Commodity Research, rable to the parameters produced ity: 50 to 70 percent) ensures high bar- a special-purpose company at the from the original raw material,” the rier properties. Furthermore, the films University of Economics in Poznań company informs. are dedicated to all types of wrappers Sp. z o.o. to examine quality and available on the market. FOL-GOS was properties of its products. “Compara- w www.folgos.pl/en

Furniture Upholstery from Recycled Waste essutica, which belongs to “Greencare” is certified under the chain. With growing demands for TBelgium-based Beaulieu Interna- Global Recycle Standard (GRS) label. sustainability within the business tional Group (B.I.G.), has announced The fabrics base on recycled world as well as from end-consumers, a new product line: “Greencare” is from regular post-consumer PET Tessutica it was the right choice the company’s new collection with bottles from the oceans, landfills and to offer a product line that comes 100 percent recycled and recyclable upcycled from garments. For with a full guarantee of environmen- upholstery fabrics. After use, the this, Tessutica partnered with the tal consciousness. fabrics can be recycled into pellets Seaqual project, which brings plastic again. According to the information, waste back into the manufacturing w www.tessutica.com

New Member ortugal-based company Intraplás, members, including COEXPAN, ELIX development and industrialization PIndústria Transformadora de Plás- Polymers, Exiba, Greiner Packaging, of new recycling technologies and ticos, S.A. has joined the organization INEOS Styrolution, Repsol, Tomra, solutions. It aims to strengthen the Styrenics Circular Solutions (SCS). As Total, Trinseo and Versalis (Eni). sustainability of styrenic products reported, Intraplás has over 50 years of while improving resource efficiency experience in extrusion, thermoform- Styrenics Circular Solutions is the within the circular economy. ing and printing in the packaging sec- value chain initiative to increase the tor for the food industry, specialized in circularity of styrenics. The initiative w www.styrenics-circular-solutions. the dairy sector. They join fellow SCS engages the entire value chain in the com

USA: Recycling Market Development Platform he company More Recycling has U.S. EPA stats (2017)”, More Recycling were needed to overcome the expo- Tlaunched a Recycling Market wrote in its press release. “Recycling is nential economic imbalance facing the Development Platform, which will be not as impactful as simply consuming recycling industry. available through www.CircularityIn­ less or reusing more, but it is a criti- Action.com. cal step in conserving resources and As emphasized, the new platform reducing greenhouse gas emissions. is offered for free. More Recycling is The purpose is to illuminate circularity This recycling and rate has supported by the American Chemistry in action and to connect people with the potential to fall even lower without Council as the first Premier Patron tools and resources. “The recycling large-scale action, especially with the of Recycling Market Development and composting rate is only 35.2 per- additional challenges we face due to Platform. cent of the total material waste gener- the global pandemic.” Better policy ated in the U.S., according to the latest and greater innovation for circularity w www.CircularityInAction.com

12 global-recycling.info Europe: Initiative to Close the Glass Loop

he Association of Cities and The platform TRegions for sustainable Resource management (ACR+) has joint the Eu- Glass is already Europe’s most recycled ropean initiative, which was founded food and beverage packaging material by FEVE (Federation of European – the latest figures put the collection manu­facturers of glass containers), rate at 76 percent (EU-28: about 12.4 FERVER (the association of glass recy- million tons in 2017). Most of the 30 cling companies in Europe) and EXPRA billion collected containers go back (the Extended Producer responsibility into the batch of one of the 160 plants Alliance), to name but a few. The goal in Europe; the average batch contains is to achieve 90 percent of glass pack- 52 percent recycled content. “Yet new aging collection for recycling by 2030. glass containers could be produced with more recycled glass, and we want ACR+ represents 1,100 municipalities to make that happen”, FEVE pointed and 52 local and regional authori- out. “By recycling more and better, we ties and joins “Close the Glass Loop” can progress on new EU 2030 recy- putting their extensive network at the cling targets and the UN Sustainable disposal of the platform. “Thanks to Development Goals – particularly SDG the cooperation of its members, ACR+ 12: Responsible Production and Con- will have a key role in gathering data sumption – and achieve sustainable to build an overview of how the glass growth opportunities in the Circular collection and sorting chain work in Economy. Recent European legisla- the Member States, cross-analyzing tion has set new real recycling targets. for these national frameworks and The revised Packaging and Packaging local waste practices”, FEVE said. “This Waste Directive is increasing recycling intelligence-gathering work will enrich targets for glass packaging to 70 per- the Close the Glass Loop campaign cent by 2025 and 75 percent by 2030 and will encourage key stakeholders to per country. Most importantly, new focus more on end-of-use glass pack- EU targets now measure the actual aging management as a key sustain- recycling of packaging materials – not able resource that needs to be better just collection rates. This means that exploited.” to achieve these real recycling targets, we will need to make more effort to It takes real increase and improve collection.” giants to handle “Close the Glass Loop” aims to in- crease the recycled content available wastemonsters to the industry, by collecting more and better glass upfront. The whole Vecoplan-Shredder – the value chain is involved in recycling: power pack in pre-shredding from the glass producer to the brand for alternative fuel processing owner and the filler, to the consumer and glass treater passing by the EPR Vecoplan machines and systems are and Waste Management Schemes, as Photo: 445693 / Pixabay designed to off er the maximum for your well as collectors and municipalities. preparation process. Convince yourself. The vision is to achieve full actual recy- cling of collected glass packaging by working in partnership with the whole value chain to make sure the circular Vecoplan AG | Vor der Bitz 10 56470 Bad Marienberg | Germany economy works better. Phone: +49 2661 62 67-0 [email protected] | www.vecoplan.com ENTERPRISES Photo: INEOS Styrolution

Goal: A Closed Loop for Styrenics The Germany-based company INEOS Styrolution has demonstrated that a circular economy regarding styrenics is possible. That is a consi- derable step forward, based on mechanical and chemical recycling.

eadquartered in Frankfurt am Main, the Our aim and our dedication at INEOS Styrolution is to cre- company produces styrene monomer, poly- ate sustainable styrenics solutions that have the product styrene, ABS standard and styrenic special- performance and properties on par with conventional solu- ties with more than 90 years of experience tions. Launched in October last year, our two new recycled and production facilities in Europe, Asia and ABS grades, Terluran ECO GP-22 MR50 and Terluran ECO GP- theH Americas. With its production technology, advanced 22 MR70, contain respectively 50 and 70 percent of recycled research and development skills, Intellectual property post-consumer ABS from waste electrical and electronic (IP) and patents, INEOS Styrolution sees itself as perfectly equipment (WEEE). The properties of these recycled grades equipped to ensure the highest level of quality, efficiency match the property profile of the virgin ABS grades. and innovation. In the following interview Johannes Mus- seleck, Director of Global Strategy at INEOS Styrolution, There has been a high demand by brand owners interested informs GLOBAL RECYCLING Magazine about the company’s in these products. During the past months, Terluran ECO solutions for a circular economy. was widely tested by big brand owners, who gave very positive feedback about how it is meeting their expecta- Since early 2018, INEOS Styrolution has been exploring the tions. This ideal drop-in solution does not compromise mechanical recycling of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene in performance, and manufacturers do not need to adapt (ABS), and now offers the first two products of the newly their technology or production processes. Moreover, this launched ECO family. Can the products’ properties match recycling process is less energy-intensive, has a much lower the profiles of their non-recycled counterparts? carbon footprint in comparison to conventional production

14 global-recycling.info ENTERPRISES processes and will reduce the amount of waste that ends INEOS Styrolution is also offering the integration of renew- up in a landfill. Today, we are in different stages of develop- able feedstock as a replacement for fossil fuel in upstream ment with several customers to implement Terluran ECO existing petrochemical installations. What is the benefit of grades in their running processes. In short: The product bio-attributed styrene? properties of the new material absolutely match the prop- erty profile of its non-recycled counterparts. In addition to our efforts to drive mechanical and chemical recycling, we are also offering the integration of renewable In 2019, INEOS Styrolution achieved a breakthrough in the feedstock as a replacement for fossil fuel. This approach chemical recycling of polystyrene. Furthermore, the com- allows us to create more sustainable supply chains while pany is working on the realization of this method on a pilot retaining our already optimized and highly efficient infra- and industrial scale. What specific measures have been structure and processes. By using bio-attributed feedstock, planned – or have already been implemented? we aim to reduce our environmental footprint and save valuable resources. The feedstock we source complies with Indeed, in April 2019, we produced a lab-scale quantity of the highest sustainability certification criteria by RSB (The general-purpose polystyrene from 100 percent recycled Roundtable for Sustainable Biomaterials). That means styrene monomer in our Antwerp plant in Belgium. The ma- that the renewable feedstock does not compete with food terial was the result of experimental polystyrene produc- production and does not contribute to deforestation. Using tion runs with styrene monomer feedstock produced from bio-attributed styrene offers us a 74 percent lower green- the depolymerization of post-consumer polystyrene waste. house gas footprint when compared to styrene produced by That is part of our dedicated efforts to close the loop on fossil fuel. And for our customers, this approach presents a polystyrene, one of the most recyclable plastics materials. “drop-in” solution with identical product quality and prop- Therefore, we teamed up with commercial partners, re- erties and therefore does not require product development search institutes and leading-edge technology providers to or new registration and regulatory approvals. build first production sites with significantly bigger capaci- ties. In Europe, we collaborate on a depolymerization facil- On an industrial scale, how much post-consumer material ity in Antwerp, Belgium. In the Americas, we are engaged in would be required for mechanical or chemical recycling? setting up a depolymerization plant in Channahon, Illinois, USA, next to our existing polystyrene plant. We plan to develop first industrial plants with capacities of around 15 kilotons per year. But we do not stop there. We We have provided some batches of recycled polystyrene to are already looking at longer-term volume scenarios, and some of our customers to test and jointly develop commer- together with partners, we analyzed the waste value chain. cial solutions. We also have promising early results from The good news is that we have been able to identify nearly two independent life impact assessment (LCA) studies on all of the polystyrene packaging volumes that are put on chemical recycling, which show at least 37 percent lower the market in the waste value chain, so it is not getting lost.

CO2 footprint compared to fossil-based styrene. That is a That means that we can use it for recycling. Our analysis positive outcome for the depolymerization technology and clearly shows that the available waste will be sufficient for will drive it forward. our recycling plans.

What would a circular economy for styrenics look like?

Plastics waste is too valuable as a resource to incinerate or Johannes Musseleck is the Director of Global Strat- landfill it, and styrenics are made for recycling due to their egy at INEOS Styrolution; before that, he worked as unique chemical properties. We strive to provide sustain- the Director of Supply Chain Management. He works able solutions to our customers and end-consumers such on implementing the company’s Triple Shift growth as producing high-quality products from recycled materials strategy, leads various strategic global projects as well and offering the integration of renewable feedstock as a as the global Regulatory Affairs team, and is developing replacement for fossil fuel. But this cannot be achieved by INEOS Styrolution’s strategy for the Circular Economy. one company alone, so we are trying to collaborate with companies along the value chain to close the loop from Johannes Musseleck holds a degree in Economics waste collection, sorting, recycling, and production of new from Trier University. His career began at BASF in 2000, goods from recycled and bio-attributed materials. where he held various positions in marketing, sales, and innovation management before moving to INEOS Mr. Musseleck, thank you for the interview. Styrolution in 2011. w www.ineos-styrolution.com

GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 15 ENTERPRISES Advertorial: Polystyrene – Made for recycling like no other

s the global market leader in Astyrenics, INEOS Styrolution is convinced that the future of the com- pany lies in delivering innovative and circular solutions for its customers.

To achieve this, we consider a holistic approach, taking into account the impacts of our entire value chain: from R&D, resource-efficient production, prevention of waste leakage, through to waste collection, sorting and reuse, recycling or recovery of our products.

We have a proven track record in inno- vation and R&D and we are using this expertise to contribute to circularity. We continue to strive for resource-effi- cient operations and are continuously reducing our energy use as well as our emissions. We participate in the stew- ardship programme Operation Clean Sweep® and embed good practices for the containment of pellets in our day-to-day practices and management First polystyrene, recycled with depolymerisation systems at all our production sites, process and encourage logistics suppliers to also adopt these good practices. of plastics by collaborating with not forces in a collaborative industry initia- We have embarked on several proj- only styrenics manufacturers but also tive with PlasticsEurope to support ects focused on chemical recycling the entire value chain. We have joined waste collection, sorting and technol-

ogy development. We are also part of the joint European initiative of the styrenics industry called Styrenics Circular Solutions (SCS) to increase the circularity of polystyrene. We believe the synergies of these technologies Photo/Graphic: INEOS Styrolution Group GmbH will help in speeding up the imple- mentation and shorten the time to market.

By offering styrenics solutions that de- liver strong, sustainable performance, we will ensure that our customers’ businesses and end consumers’ choices become more sustainable.

Circular economy for styrenics w www.ineos.com

16 global-recycling.info ENTERPRISES Money for Circular Economy

uhtamaki and WasteAid an- According to Huhtamaki, its funded the local team prevented a million Hnounce a global partnership project “will provide financial sup- plastic bags from being burned or to drive community-level circular port to WasteAid to deliver education reaching the ocean,” Charles Héaulmé, economy innovations in key loca- and training on waste management President and CEO of the packaging tions. and circular systems. It will enable producer, is cited. “We will be learning WasteAid to work with key stakehold- from our partnership with WasteAid The global active Finnish packaging ers in Johannesburg (South Africa), Ho and will share our insights with global company Huhtamaki and UK-based Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Guwahati stakeholders as part of our sustain- international charity WasteAid have (Assam, India) to fast-track and am- ability journey to deliver on our 2030 announced a 900,000 Euro partnership plify local solutions that create value strategy.” “to drive community-level circular and reduce waste and pollution, in line economy innovation in Vietnam, with the UN’s Sustainable Develop- WasteAid, which was set up by waste India and South Africa for a two-year ment Goals.” management professionals to tackle period”. To mark its 100th anniversary, the global waste crisis, would bring its Huhtamaki is also donating three Huhtamaki, a global player in sustain- expertise in sustainable waste man- million Euro to global sustainability able food-on-the-go and food-on-the- agement to share skills, develop busi- initiatives with a local impact – act- shelf packaging solutions, “chose to ness ideas and create end-markets for ing today, educating for tomorrow partner with WasteAid as it is already recyclable materials, driving innova- and funding innovation for the future, making a positive impact on plastic tion and developing a new generation “making a difference where it matters pollution. An illustration of this is their of green entrepreneurs locally. most to help address global sustain- project in West Africa, where trainees ability challenges and build circular are turning plastic waste into useful w www.huhtamaki.com economy initiatives”. products like paving tiles. Very quickly w www.wasteaid.org

GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 17 ENTERPRISES Paper Packaging: New Action Group in Europe

he partners of the European paper the development of alternative pack- ambition is higher. We are driving a Tsector in the industry alliance aging materials including fiber-based system-wide shift to transition to the “4evergreen” intend to boost the con- packaging with a view to helping con- next level of circularity and climate tribution of paper-based packaging in sumers make more climate-friendly resilience. ‘4evergreen’ will be the a circular economy. Cepi (Confedera- choices,” the association explained. place for the whole industry value tion of European Paper Industries), the “4evergreen” was created as a forum chain to co-create and collaborate for association representing the paper in- to engage and connect industry mem- a change.” dustry in Europe, has arranged a new bers from across the sector’s value alliance called “4evergreen”. It aims to chain – from paper and board produc- The first “4evergreen” alliance mem- boost the contribution of fiber-based ers to packaging converters, brand- bers include Nestlé, Danone, Mars, packaging in a circular and sustainable owners and retailers, technology and Stora Enso, Smurfit Kappa, Sappi, economy that minimizes climate and material suppliers, waste sorters and Metsä Board, UPM, Mayr-Melnhof environmental impact. collectors. Group, Reno de Medici, Mondi, Burgo, Kotkamills, DS Smith, Heinzel Group, According to Cepi, the initiative in- “Fiber-based packaging can be a Ahlstrom Munksjö, International tends to increase awareness about the game-changer for material substitu- Paper, BillerudKorsnäs, Huhtamäki, benefits of these packaging materials, tion”, Eija Hietavuo, Chairwoman of SEDA, SIG Combibloc, Tetra Pak, advocate for EU legislation supporting the new action group and Senior Vice Elopak, Walki, Schur Group, Cardbox product design for recyclability, and President Sustainability Stora Enso Packaging, Firstan Ltd., Westrock, call for the development of optimized Consumer Board, was cited. The com- Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG, collection systems for materials mon goal would be to deliver a holistic Graphic Packaging International, AR dedicated to recycling and appropriate approach to optimize the sustainabil- Packaging, Baumer hhs GmbH, Van recycling infrastructures. “The rise of ity and circularity of the packaging’s Genechten Packaging Group, Sonoco environmental awareness and con- life cycle. “The time to act is now!” Jori and VTT. The alliance is welcoming sumer concerns as well as the increase Ringman, Director General at Cepi, more organizations to join the col- of packaging, focused regulation, such stated. “Our industry already has a laboration. as the Single-Use Plastics Directive, strong track record in environmental have helped companies to accelerate performance and recycling, but our w www.cepi.org/4evergreen

New Food Waste Processing Facility in Indonesia

idy Planet, a technique provider and two B2500s – the largest Rocket Tfor organic waste, has partnered Composter the company manufac- with shredding expert Untha UK to tures”, the company informed. Follow- supply an industrial-scale solution for ing a year-long tendering process, the a new multi-million-pound Integrated Cheshire-based firm has also teamed Waste Management Facility (IWMF) up with Untha UK, which would supply at a gas pipeline expansion project in an LR1000 wood shredder and an RS30 Indonesia. four-shaft plastic shredder as part of the bid for the IWMF. Other UK organi- As reported, Tidy Planet has previous- zations are also involved in the waste ly worked on a variety of composting management overhaul, supplying can projects in the global oil and gas sec- ed per day at a liquid gas plant in Tan- baling systems, control packages, and Photo: Tidy Planet tor. This latest venture would require guhh. “Processing of the large volume packing/crating services. numerous processes to treat plastic, of food will be achieved with metal and wood wastes as well as five a commercial-scale version of Tidy w www.tidyplanet.co.uk additional tons of food waste generat- Planet’s Dehydra Dewatering system w www.untha.co.uk

18 global-recycling.info ENTERPRISES Facility in Riyadh to Be fully Operational by July

he Saudi Investment Recycling district of Riyadh, the plant covers over TCompany (SIRC), a wholly-owned 1.3 million square meters of land allo- subsidiary of the Public Investment cated by Amanat Al Riyadh. Once com- Fund (PIF), realizes the first Construc- missioned, it will treat up to 600 tons tion & Demolition Waste (CDW) recy- of CDW per hour and achieve recycling cling plant in Saudi Arabia. rates of over 90 percent. On its part, Amanat Al Riyadh will organize and di- According to the information, the rect all CDW collectors and contractors state-of-the-art facility is in the final to SIRC’s Al Khair site. The CDW will be stages of construction and will be sorted and processed in a sustainable operational by the end of July, “signal- way to produce recycled aggregates ing the first step towards meeting the for construction projects and various national ambition of diverting 60 per- road development applications. cent of CDW from landfills by 2035 in alignment with the Kingdom’s effort to The facility is going to receive waste accelerate the transition to a circular and will recycle 20 million tons of economy”. SIRC, the National Center for Waste CDW dumped and accumulated every Management and Amanat Al Riyadh year in vacant plots, as well as five Photo: SIRC The facility is the first to be developed for embracing integrated waste man- million tons of annually recurring under the memorandum of under- agement and recycling activities in CDW disposed of in illegal landfills or standing signed in July 2019 between the capital. Located in Al Khair, north old sites.

RECYCLING PLANTS FOR THE COMPLETE ENHANCEMENT OF METAL WASTE

ALUMINIUM Hall 11 - Stand M55/01 ECOMONDO Hall A3 - Stand 47

www.panizzolo.com MARKETS Photo: bea_marques / Pixabay

Brazil: Challenges for the Future Brazil, the biggest country in Latin America, generates nearly 80 million tons of solid waste every year. Concerning selective waste collection and recycling, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

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n 2018, 79 million tons of urban solid waste were At that time, the percentage of recyclable materials was produced in the country, Empresa Brasil de Comu- low, compared to developed countries, the authors (Raquel nicação (EBC), a Brazilian public company to man- Greice de Souza Marotta Alfaia, Alyne Moraes Costa and age the federal government’s broadcast network, Juacyara Carbonelli Campos) explained in the report. There reported in November last year. The waste generation was a local difference concerning the physical composition Iincreased by less than one percent compared to the previ- of MSW (municipal solid waste) in towns, which reflected ous year. Of this total, 92 percent (72.7 million tons) was the respective economic power of the region. According collected – up 1.66 percent against 2017; 6.3 million tons of to various studies, the highest number of recyclables (41.7 waste remained uncollected across the cities. The figures percent) was found in the South-East, followed by the Mid- came from the outlook of the Brazilian Association of Public West (29.72 percent), the North (27.46 percent), the South Cleaning and Special Waste Companies (Abrelpe), the com- (26.87 percent) and the North-East (10.31 percent). munication company pointed out. The waste material generated in the highest proportion in According to the information, in comparison to all Latin all these towns corresponded to organic matter (51.4 to American countries, Brazil accounts for 40 percent of the to- 57.27 percent). In this context, the authors noted that in tal generated waste in the region (541,000 tons a day, as per Brazil annually around 41,000 tons of food became waste UN Environment). “The numbers listed in the outlook bring in Brazilian towns and cities, referring to information from Brazil to a position considerably below other countries EBC in 2016. “As a stark contrast, millions of Brazilians live with the same income level. Our deficit is significant and in extreme poverty; in other words, a great many people we really need urgent measures not just to redress it, but have a monthly income of less than 24 US-Dollar, and they to advance towards better management practices for solid need help from the Brazilian government to guarantee their waste”, Abrelpe President Carlos Silva Filho was quoted. access to food.” Estimates based on the time series showed that the country would reach a generation of 100 million tons a year around Recycling activities 2030. Because of the projected quantity of waste, sorting the materials out appropriately – as well as recycling and As reported by the online publication “RioOnWatch” in recovery – were not on a par with this growth, he warned. 2019, 1,055 Brazilian cities had a recycling program. The country recycles one percent of its waste, the publication As reported, one out of every 12 Brazilians have no regu- “The Brazilian Report” informed in July last year. lar waste collection service at their doorstep, due to – for example – a lack of funding; many municipalities are In 2015, the country recycled 602,000 tons of aluminum, indebted and cannot afford these activities. Furthermore, the Brazilian Aluminum Association (ABAL) informs on its there is a lack of awareness in society about the importance homepage. The relationship between this volume and the of the appropriate management of solid waste in protect- domestic consumption of aluminum would indicate a per- ing the environment and preventing diseases. According to centage of 38.5, “which exceeds the world average of 27.1 Abrelpe, the same applies to selective waste collection and percent (2014 basis)”. Of this total, 292,500 tons referred recycling rates, which are rather low. While the world would to scrap from aluminum beverage cans that corresponded talk about circular economy and more advanced ways to to 97.9 percent of the total packaging consumed in 2015, sort and reuse garbage – the association’s argument is cited “a figure that has placed Brazil in the best positions of the – the country still has landfills in every region and needs world since 2001”. to tackle a behavior problem among the population, as the Brazilians had still to learn how to dispose of trash and separate the recyclable waste.

Stark contrasts

The waste generation in Brazil seems to stagnate. In 2015, over 207 million Brazilians generated a waste volume of 79.9 million tons (1.7 percent more solid waste than in the “There is a wide range of previous year), the report “Municipal solid waste in Brazil: A review” stated in 2017. As described, of the collected government-sponsored public amount 58.7 percent was appropriately disposed of in sani- projects inviting investor tary landfills, while 41.3 percent (or nearly 30 million tons) ended in controlled landfills or open dumps. support and participation.“

GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 21 MARKETS

As stated by Alfaia, Costa and Campos, in ian Pet Industry Association. Also, activities in important Brazil is mainly related to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sectors such as textiles, chemicals, the automotive industry bottles, “which are abundant in the rubbish generated in and transportation had dropped almost 50 percent, reflect- Brazilian cities, and there are many waste pickers who work ing negatively on recycling, since these industries were in the separation of this type of recyclable material”. Some large consumers of raw recycled materials. years ago, according to the information, about 51 percent of this material was recycled in Brazil. While 314,000 tons of About , the country recorded a recovery PET had been recycled in 2014, one year later this figure de- rate of 63.4 percent in 2015, corresponding to a growth of creased to 274,000 tons. “The drop can be attributed to low approximately four percent to the previous year; 61 percent economic activity (falling demand) and a large reduction in of the paper consumed in Brazil (9.6 million tons) were oil prices”, the authors wrote, referring to Abipet, the Brazil- recycled. This percentage had to be seen concerning the increase in the volume recovered as well as to the reduction in paper consumption, mainly printing and writing paper, the authors of the report “Municipal solid waste in Brazil” Implementing the National wrote. Paper consumption had been declining since 2011, culminating in a reduction of 19.7 percent in 2015 com- Policy for solid waste treatment pared to 2014. Germany and Brazil can look back on over 50 years of cooperation in the field of sustainable development. The Brazilian economy Currently the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the country The Brazilian economy is negatively affected by the corona- with a project called ProteGEEr (Support to the imple- virus – as is happening also in other countries of the world. mentation of the National Policy for Solid Waste consid- The country was hit by this situation at a time when the ering climate-protection), which ends in 2021. recovery from the 2015-2016 recession was weak and eco- nomic growth achieved only 1.1 percent in 2019. “On the In 2010, Brazil adopted a waste management policy assumption that the reform agenda continues to advance, (law 12.305), which so far has only partially been imple- growth is projected to gain momentum in 2020”, the OECD mented, GIZ gave account. Greenhouse gas emissions (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Develop- in the waste sector were still rising, and CO reduction 2 ment) wrote in November 2019 on its homepage. “However, targets for the waste sector were not yet defined for high unemployment is falling only slowly and newly created the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the jobs are of low quality, including many informal jobs.” Paris Agreement. In the process of implementing solid waste management plans, municipalities would still Covid-19 acts as a brake on economic development: Ac- face technical challenges. “In order to access subsi- cording to news agency Reuters, referring to The World dized funds, such as the Caixa fund, which provides Bank, Brazil’s economy could shrink this year by 5.0 percent money for waste treatment, technical knowledge and due to the direct and indirect economic impact of the strategic planning are needed,” the German organiza- coronavirus pandemic. As reported, the country faces three tion underlined on its homepage. Reference projects major shocks: weak global demand, low oil prices and the were helpful to municipalities in the process of imple- economic disruption from domestic virus-containment menting waste management measures.

A new version of the national solid waste management plan was intended to be issued in December last year. According to GIZ, this would create opportunities to align it with the National Plan on Climate Change and seize the waste sector’s potential for climate change mitigation. “In the short term, the objective is to imple- ment efficient waste treatment options, which also Photo: ASSY / Pixabay will improve the quality of life of Brazilian citizens,” the German service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and inter- national education work emphasized. “The long term objective is climate change mitigation.”

22 global-recycling.info MARKETS measures. “These shocks will reduce private consumption channels between public and private actors, which are of and may impact labor productivity, while unemployment high relevance for the success of each undertaking. “The is expected to rise. The global and domestic demand shock organization of this Guide was implemented by the Brazil- (will prompt) a significant drop in investment,” World ian Investment Information Network (RENAI), part of the Bank’s report “The Economy In The Time Of Covid-19” was Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services (MDIC), the quoted. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), the Brazilian Service of Support for Micro and Small Enterprises (SEBRAE) and the However, FocusEconomics, a provider of economic analysis Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (APEX- and forecasts for 130 countries, estimates that the economy Brasil),” the information says. will strengthen, supported by low-interest rates and the government’s reform agenda. “Delayed reforms and a pro- longed Covid-19 pandemic cloud the outlook”, the analysts w www.investexportbrasil.gov.br/brazilian-official- expect. In April this year, they projected a growth of 1.9 guide-investment-opportunities?l=en# percent in 2020. “In 2021, growth is seen accelerating to 2.4 percent”, the interested reader could learn. A guide of “How to Do Business and Invest in Bra- zil” can be found at w www.amcham.com.br/ Investment opportunities howtobr?set_language=en-us Despite the difficult economic situation, there are According to the Brazilian official guide on investment tenders. The announcements are published on the opportunities, there is a “wide range of government-spon- internet: sored public projects inviting investor support and partici- w www.dgmarket.com/tenders/list.do?sub= pation”. As underlined, the guide aims to support the deci- environment-in-Brazil-6&locationISO=br sion-making of investors, featuring trustworthy, systematic w www.tendersinfo.com/global-brazil-tenders.php and high-level information on selected projects, enhancing w www.tendersontime.com/brazil-tenders/ the establishment of transparent and consistent dialogue

GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 23 MARKETS Waste Management in Vietnam: The Race Is on In 2015, Vietnam was number four out of five countries that dump more plastic into the oceans than the rest of the world combined. To attribute the country “drowning in was- te” was not witty, but accurate. Progress in the waste treat- ment technology during the last years delivers what a study called “a proof for hope of waste management”. Photo: Sergei Tokmakov / Pixabay.com

24 global-recycling.info MARKETS

n May 2018, the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Af- annually. Furthermore, estimations assume an increase of fairs, CREM and Partners for Innovation published a municipal solid waste quantity by 10 to 16 percent every comprehensive scoping study on the circular econo- year, so that the quantity per capita will quadruple in the my. The statistics offered that the annual Vietnamese next 15 years. 50 to 70 percent of the waste in urban areas waste production comprised more than 27.8 million could be recycled, but only a limited amount is handled Itons consisting of 46 percent from municipal sources, the that way at present. Hoang Duong Tung, Deputy Director of remainder delivered from agriculture and industry. The five the Environment Department at the MONRE, complained biggest cities – Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (HCM City, former that – despite some waste recycling systems installed – Saigon), Haiphong, Da Nang and Can Tho – are responsible infrastructure and effectiveness “could not keep up with the for about 70 percent of the total waste generation. The mu- demand”. nicipal solid waste contains 60 to 70 percent of biodegrad- able residues by wet weight. Recycling handled by the informal sector

Landfilling quota up to 85 percent No wonder, as from 1990 to 2015 the plastic consump- tion per capita rose from 3.8 kilograms (kg) to 41 kg – an According to the German Society for International Coopera- increase of 10 percent year-on-year. Especially plastic is of tion (GIZ), at the same time, the Vietnamese collection cov- “growing concern”, as the country is “drowning in waste”, erage ranged from 40 to 85 percent differing between rural so that the tourism sector says “NO to plastic waste”, online and urban areas, with rates of 95 percent in Hanoi and Ho magazine headlines suggest. In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Chi Minh City. Waste diverted from disposal amounted to about 80 tons of plastic and plastic bags are discharged 44 percent without precise information about recycling and daily, and in Hanoi alone, plastic accounts for seven to eight reuse, composting and utilization of energy recovery from percent of the 4,000 to 5,000 tons of daily waste, Deputy waste or biogas. The resulting disposal share accounted for Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan 56 percent. However, a contemporary study concerning the Nhan is quoted. But until recently, most of the plastic mate- waste market assumes that even about 85 percent of the rial recycled in Vietnam was imported from other countries waste generated in Vietnam is landfilled without treatment like China and – after the Chinese ban of scrap imports – the at sites, 80 percent of them being unsanitary. According to United States. Indeed, Vietnam stopped issuing plastic recy- incomplete statistics from the national Ministry of Natural cling import licenses in June 2018 and planned to stop US Resources and Environment (MONRE), there are 450 land- scrap plastic imports in 2025. But the effect was a boosted fills in Vietnam but only about 120 following proper sanitary demand for recyclable domestic plastic waste and an regulations. increased import of US plastic scrap in 2018, the research experts of Mordor Intelligence found out. And most of the In January 2020, an article published by the World Eco- recycling – usually collected by waste scavengers – is per- nomic Forum described the Vietnamese waste situation as formed by manufacture handicrafts by the informal sector: “a combination of rising consumption and poor national either informal family businesses or small-scale enterprises waste management”. Waste generated between 2004 and specialized in recycling discarded plastic (or other waste 2015 increased from 15.6 million tons to 27.8 million tons materials).

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Small profit margins Only 36 incinerators and composting sites

“Recycling technologies in craft villages are mainly manual In fact, a GIZ-list of treatment sites in 2018 included merely and outdated, causing serious environmental pollution. Be- 36 treatment facilities: five incinerators, 12 compost sites sides, wastes from craft villages are not treated but dumped and 18 composting and incineration sites without energy directly into the environment with municipal wastes and recovery. The only waste-to-energy plant worked since taken to landfills,” a comprehensive paper conducted by 2016. According to foreign investors assistant firm Vietnam the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Develop- Briefing, the country’s installed capacity for energy recovery ment, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry from biomass and solid wastes in June 2018 reached 352 and the United States Business Council for Sustainable De- MW (megawatt) and 2.4 MW respectively, while the poten- velopment explained in summer 2019. A scientific analysis of recycling structures for electro(nic) waste shows a com- parable infrastructure of basic and obsolete technologies: manual dismantling works, manual and experience-based metal recycling processes, single extraction of copper and gold, no recovery of precious metals or rare earth elements. In this narrow system, there is no chance for foreign sup- pliers to achieve market share, especially as no financial resources for technological improvement are available. German Trade and Invest spoke in May 2018 of about 120 enterprises possessing licenses for the disposal of industry, medical and hazardous waste, but also mentioned hard market competition and small profit margins.

Regulations assigned to different actors

The Vietnamese government adopted several legislative requirements for waste treatment. Major regulations are mentioned in Decision 31/2014/QD-TTg regarding the de- velopment of power generation projects using solid waste, Circular 32/2015/TT-BCT concerning grid-tied generation projects using solid wastes, Decree 38/2015/NDCP on the management of waste and discarded materials, Decree 174/2007/ND-CP on environmental protection fee of solid waste, and Decree 118/2015/ND-CP dealing with invest- ment incentives and schemes in various waste treatment sectors. The Law of Environmental Protection delivers modern legal conditions for a sustainable waste treatment business, and a National Waste Management Strategy pro- vides a detailed framework for building a circular economy focusing on the complete waste collection by 2025. The aim is a collection rate for municipal waste of 90 percent with a recycling share of 85 percent and for industrial waste of 90 percent and 80 percent respectively. Furthermore, the Prime Minister issued a national action plan on maritime plastic waste management to reduce 75 percent of plastic debris by 2030. But – as the before mentioned scoping study expresses – “institutional arrangement of solid waste management in Vietnam is complex and involves many Ministries in the system”. The online-magazine VietNamNet Global stated in Mai 2019 that solid waste management in Vietnam has been “assigned to different ministries and agencies, which are inconsistent from central to local lev- els” and is still exposing a lot of shortcomings.

26 global-recycling.info MARKETS tial from that material was around 2,000 MW and 320 MW example, inaugurated its first industrial waste-to-energy respectively: The Vietnamese energy demand, however, facility in April 2017, with a waste treatment capacity of 75 ranges from 10 percent by 2020 and eight percent by 2030, tons per day and a power generation capability of 1.93 MW. with a fourfold increase of electricity consumption in 2030 The equipment came from Japan’s Hitachi Zosen Corpora- compared to 2014. tion, and 22.5 from 29 million US-Dollar investments were raised by a Japanese governmental organization. In Decem- Incentives for local and external investors ber 2018, a waste-to-energy factory with an investment of 47 million US-Dollar was inaugurated in Thoi Lai district of The shortfall in capacity became more serious so that the Can Tho; to be constructed by China Everbright Internation- big cities were forced to react. The capital city of Hanoi, for al, it is expected to help address the solid waste pollution the Mekong Delta city is recently facing. In Ho Chi Minh City, “sufficient funds are available for transport and treatment” of municipal waste and “hundreds of billions of dong per year” were invested for treatment, according to VUFO-NGO Resource Centre in HCM City. Similarly, a solid waste man- agement expert from the HCM City Department of Natural Resources in September 2019 gave an account that the city government had offered incentives to local and foreign investors to invest in waste treatment projects. At the same time, the planning of a 400-million US-Dollar waste-to- energy plant with the first phase capacity of 2,000 tons per day became public. Additionally, two months later, HCM City started to work on its first industrial and hazardous waste treatment and recycling plant, officially operational in September 2021, handling 500 tons per day and turning 70 to 90 percent of the waste into materials and products. Until then, the city supposedly ran 13 licensed, but small hazardous waste treatment facilities with a limited capacity of 250 tons per day and untreated waste volumes delivered to other localities.

Number of foreign competitors growing

Other foreign competitors entered the market. In February 2017, Australia’s Trisun Green Energy Co secured approval to build a 520 million US-Dollar waste treatment plant outside Ho Chi Minh City. The facility’s application of a plasma gasification technology was designed for burning 3,000 tons of material, i.e. about 40 percent of the city’s volume. More than that, the company set a goal of building up between 12 to 20 electricity-generating waste treatment plants capable of replacing coal-fired plants in Vietnam in the next five to ten years, the firm said on its website. Finnish waste technology suppliers became interested too: In July 2018, Doranova Oy planned two landfill gas plant projects in HCM City; Watrec launched a waste to energy project in Hanoi and started a technical consultancy related

to a large scale waste-to-energy project in HCM City; Valmet Photo: falco / Pixabay.com was concerned in cooperation and technology transfer with Vietnamese partners; and BioGTS kept an eye on a biogas technology application in waste and wastewater treatment in Dong Thap province. In October 2018, Japan- based industrial technology firm Hitachi Zosen Corpora- tion’s subsidiary, Hitachi Zosen Vietnam Co. Ltd., declared

GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 27 MARKETS to expand its waste-to-energy operations in Vietnam and The waste-to-energy sector the development of plant constructions in the capital of Hanoi and neighboring cities in Northern Vietnam. Further- in Vietnam, without doubt, more, in June 2019, nine companies even joined hands for holds a lot of potential. a packaging recycling alliance: Coca-Cola Vietnam, Fries­ landCampina, La Vie, Nestlé Vietnam, NutiFood, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam, Tetra Pak Vietnam, TH Group and URC Vietnam teamed up and launched the Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO Vietnam) in HCM City. It seems Netherland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CREM and Partners that – as Mordor Intelligence expressed – “the number of for Innovation phrased a roadmap – interesting for Dutch foreign competitors is constantly growing and only qual- and Vietnamese stakeholders – to benefit from the oppor- ity is often not enough to sustain as a long-term business tunities the transition towards a circular economy could partner.” offer in Vietnam: “Potential partners involved are identified, as well as support and instruments by the Dutch govern- International associates wanted ment that could support the action.”

The majority of the companies in Vietnam’s solid waste “Consider Vietnam!” management industry are state-owned, while foreign countries or large, partly multinational companies with At the end of 2017, experts realized a lack of favorable Vietnamese subsidiaries provide the technology. However, investment conditions for foreign investors, who were first neither central nor local governments dispose of financial of all waiting for new public-private partnership regulations means to fund state-of-the-art and sustainable waste treat- that were not fully developed even in Mai 2018. Addition- ment projects. So, they are looking at foreign associates to ally, to increase investments in new plants or capacity tackle waste. For example, in 2018, the World Bank gave a expansion of existing facilities, the government at that time credit of 202 million US-Dollar to Vietnam for a renewable was obliged to support the domestic firms financially as it energy development project, while the Asian Develop- takes time to recover capital investments in the sector, Viet- ment Bank designed a waste-to-energy scheme to increase nam Briefing stated. The waste-to-energy sector in Vietnam, the energetic usage of waste. At a working session with without doubt, holds a lot of potential. But Nguyễn Ngọc Lý, representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce Director of the Center for Environment and Community Re- in Vietnam, an official speaker, for instance, expressed his search, is skeptical. She is quoted with the words: “Vietnam hope that “the US business community will take an active has been struggling against increased solid waste discharge part in investing in and providing technical support for the into the environment, while treatment facilities are unlikely city”; representatives of the US firms answered that HCM to catch up for decades.” So, the country is well advised to City is very attractive to many investors. Swedish Ambassa- tackle the issue head-on and invite interested parties with dor to Vietnam, Ann Mawe, is cited with the words: “Swe- the welcome of the Embassy of Denmark, Vietnam: “Look- den would happily share its experiences (on the circular ing for a market with an increasing need to invest in new economy) with Vietnam.” And in their scoping study, the waste management technologies? Consider Vietnam!”

28 global-recycling.info MARKETS The Fibersort Project

n March this year, the partners of the has been optimized, tested and vali- technologies and recycled post-con- IEuropean Fibersort project reported dated to prepare it for commercializa- sumer textiles across the value chain”, that their machine is ready to start tion”, a press release said. The Fiber- the partners are convinced. However, “valorizing global textile waste”. Ac- sort were now able to sort about 900 several challenges would remain to cording to the information, this tech- kilograms of post-consumer textiles ensure the long-term implementa- nology can automatically sort large per hour. tion of these technologies concerning volumes of garments and finished financial and technical feasibility as products by fiber composition. “Fibersorted materials are well as the opportunities to scale. Col- ready for the market” lectors, sorters, recyclers, manufactur- The accelerating consumption and ers, brands and policymakers would disposal practices in fashion cause According to the Fibersort partners, have both opportunities and respon- textiles entering the market to reach the success of the technology is highly sibilities to address these challenges. their end-of-use rapidly. In North- dependent on the end-markets that Although the Fibersort project has West Europe alone, around 4.7 million help to transform textile waste into reached its ending date in March, “the tons of post-consumer textile waste is new resources. During the project, partners in the Fibersort consortium generated every year, a small portion they have worked with 360 industry expect to continue working towards of the global mountain of textile waste. stakeholders – that have partici- this circular ambition, as well as en- On average, only 30 percent of these pated in working group and producer couraging others to join the journey”. textiles are collected separately – the network – to better understand these rest is lost within the household waste. end-markets, assess the potential of Barriers and opportunities “In the best-case scenario, these the sorted materials and validate the textiles are sold in the second-hand business case of automated sorting In the final report of the Fibersort market both locally and internation- as a key enabler of textile-to-textile re- project, the key barriers and critical ally”, Circle Economy, the leading part- cycling. “Results from these activities success factors for an effective market ner of the Fibersort project, informed. are available through project publica- uptake of post-consumer recycled tex- “The remaining textiles are considered tions and Fibersorted materials are tiles and automated sorting technolo- non-rewearable textiles due to their now commercially available for other gies are described. unsuitability for the second-hand organizations to test their potential for market or the market saturation that textile-to-textile recycling”. The biggest hurdles are: second-hand clothing is currently — Making “recycled” the new norm: facing. Almost all of these textiles are Challenges remain ahead exploring socio-cultural barriers. currently being downcycled, inciner- Culture – whether organizational, ated or landfilled. Nevertheless, 24 “There are clear opportunities to suc- national or community-driven – percent of the textiles collected have cessfully integrate automated sorting shapes individual perceptions that the potential to be recycled into new textiles, but currently are not.” These textiles would represent 486,000 tons per year.

Automated sorting technologies could enable the industry to turn non-rewearable textiles that currently have no other destination than down- cycling, landfill or incineration into valuable feedstock for textile-to-textile recycling. One of these technologies

is the Fibersort, a Near Infrared (NIR) Source: Fibersort based technology able to categorize textiles in 45 different fractions based on their fiber composition and color. “Over the past years, the technology

GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 29 MARKETS

impact on consumer and industry content in new textile products The Fibersort project (budget: practices. The lack of urgency in developed. 3.38 million Euro, timeline: 2016 appropriately handling the growing — Assess and communicate the ur- – 2020) was funded by Interreg mountain of textile waste as well as gency of action within organizations North-West Europe (NWE), a the negative perception of recycled as well as to citizens and consumers. European Territorial Cooperation content in textiles must be ad- — Maximize the quality and consis- Program funded by the European dressed. tency of post-consumer inputs by Commission with the ambition — Creating new materials from post- providing accurate feedstock for the to make the North-West Europe consumer textiles: overcoming relevant recycling technologies. area a key economic player and physical barriers. Textile-to-textile — Safeguard the value of sorted mate- an attractive place to work and recyclers are in need of reliable rials as recycled content by testing live, with high levels of innovation, feedstock for their processes. While these materials for diverse applica- sustainability and cohesion. sorting by fiber composition and tions and ensuring product safety. color through automated near- — Accelerate the implementation of The project partners – from infrared technology enables these recycling technologies by investing Belgium, the Netherlands and materials to be sorted, consistency, in their development and scaling. the United Kingdom – are Circle quality and chemical safety of the — Ensure the price parity of recycled Economy, Procotex Corporation, post-consumer textiles are essential. with virgin by lowering processing ReShare – Stichting Leger des — Making recycling a sound business costs of post-consumer textiles and Heils, Smart Fibersorting, Valvan choice: reducing economic barri- recognizing the true cost of virgin Baling Systems and Worn Again. ers. To secure a thriving end-of-use alternatives. value chain for textiles, it is crucial to be aware of market demands, The opportunities are: w www.mailchi.mp/a19c0f92617d/ costing and pricing of sorted post- — Develop a thriving collection and fibersort-policy-recommendations- consumer textiles. Accelerating the sorting industry by ensuring there early-release-1150589?e=ba0c96943a development and implementation is a business case to collect and sort w www.circle-economy.com/pro- of recycling technologies as well the growing mountain of post-con- grammes/textiles/fibersort as ensuring price parity with virgin sumer non-rewearable textiles. w www.valvan.com/products/ alternatives will determine its finan- — Create a market pull for recycled equipment-for-used-clothing-wipers/ cial feasibility. content by incorporating recycled sorting-equipment/fibersort/

The Artist of our Cover photo and his Commitment

Benjamin Von Wong, born 1986, is a Canadian artist, activist and photographer, who is best known for his environ- mental art installations and hyper-realist art style. He is also an advocate against Ocean Plastics. In 2007, he gradu- ated from Canadian McGill University with a degree in Mining Engineering. Von Wong began his career working as an underground mine planning and design engineer, but he left engineering to pursue a career in the arts in 2012.

When the NGO Nexus wanted to highlight the problem of during the summit in December 2018, which took place in Egypt, Benjamin Von Wong and Laura Francois along with a team of volunteers realized the “The World’s Tallest Closet”, to represent “the number of clothes we accumulate over a single lifetime”. The large installation was created entirely with recycled aluminum, steel and wood, and housed around 3,000 items of donated clothing. In less than five days, the entire structure was assembled at the Mall of Arabia Photo: Benjamin Von Wong in Cairo by a team of volunteers and CanEX Aluminum. “With a vision of building a tangible representation of our per- sonal clothing consumption, the ‘Tallest Closet in the World’ encourages the public to take small steps towards reduc- ing the amount of clothing that ends up in landfill”, the project description says. The clothing used for the creation of the installation was donated to local NGOs supporting refugees; at that time over 220,000 refugees lived in Egypt.

w www.clothingtheloop.org/the-project-1/, www.vonwong.com

30 global-recycling.info MARKETS Textile Recycling in Finland

n October last year, the company age says. “The future goal is to set up About Telaketju ILounais-Suomen Jätehuolto Oy a full-scale refinement plant, which (LSJH) has launched a refinement will have the capacity to process all The “Telaketju” name is short from plant pilot in Turku, focusing on the the post-consumer textiles in Fin- textile recycling, sorting, and utiliz- recycling of post-consumer textiles. land, offer processing services for ing network, in Finnish. The project The objective is to ensure a recycling the industrial side flows and textile includes developing the collection, solution for all the end-of-life textiles waste, as well as potentially receive sorting out, and refining processes generated in Finland. The refinement and process end-of-life textiles from of end-of-life textiles. Moreover, it plant project has been prepared in the Baltic Sea region.” During the pilot enables the development of business cooperation with other Finnish mu- stage, the intention is to proceed from models related to the circular econo- nicipal waste management companies manual sorting towards an automated my. “In Telaketju, a national ecosys- and the national Telaketju network. identification line, which would enable tem of knowledge is being advanced, One of the key development targets in the processing of larger volumes of building a platform for the creation of the plant project has been to ensure end-of-life textile flows. a new and strong industry with multi- high-quality sorting based on fiber disciplinary collaboration.” composition. LSJH has been devel- The refinement plant project involves oping the near-infrared (NIR) identi- many industrial cooperation partners, The first phase of the Telaketju proj- fication technology in cooperation which have actively engaged in the ect started in April 2017 and ended with the Lahti University of Applied Telaketju network. The close prod- in January 2019. The second phase Sciences (LUAS) and the equipment uct development cooperation with began in May 2019. Telaketju 2 aims supplier, Spectral Engines. numerous textile companies has the at building a business from the cir- support of the national Telaketju 2 cular economy of textiles. The scope At the plant, the end-of-life textiles project, launched last year. Financing of the project includes novel circular collected from private households will for the refinement plant development economy business models aiming be mechanically processed by open- is being provided by Finnish municipal for better material efficiency and ing up the fabrics to create recycled waste management companies and increase material and product life, fiber. The goal of the pilot stage is to by the Ministry of Employment and as well as business-related to textile ensure that the fiber produced can be Economy. The pilot plant was granted recycling. utilized on a larger industrial scale, the 1.5 million Euros in investment aid by information on the Telaketju homep- Business Finland. w https://telaketju.turkuamk.fi/en

THE RECYCLING PROS.

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Sweden: Large-Scale Automated Textile Sorting Facility

he plant represents the third Each year, about 140,000 tons of new can be utilized when the project is Tphase of the Swedish Innovation textiles are put on the Swedish market. scaled up.” The idea is to create a sort- Platform for Textile Sorting (SIPTex) ing solution tailored to the needs of project; the start of operation is Goal: Sorting of 16,000 tons per year textile recyclers and textile companies intended to begin in summer this year. “to be the link that is currently lacking In July last year, the IVL Swedish En- The goal is to slowly increase the between textile collection and high- vironmental Institute has been given number of textiles recycled from 3,000 quality recycling”. green light for a collaborative initia- to 16,000 tons over five years. Today, tive to establish this industrial-scale post-consumer textiles are sorted SIPTex, the Swedish Innovation automated textile sorting plant. Vin- manually – primarily to identify gar- Platform for Textile Sorting, is funded nova, the Swedish Innovation Agency, ments that can be sold for reuse, IVL by Vinnova and is a step three project is to invest 22 million Swedish Krona gave account. “Automated sorting within the challenge-driven innova- (about 2.8 million US-Dollar) in the processes are necessary to sort the tion program. It is led by IVL Swedish project that will develop innovative increasing volume of textile waste that Environmental Institute and imple- solutions to achieve the Agenda 2030 cannot be reused efficiently so that it mented in collaboration with a broad sustainability goals. The plant will can be used for fiber to fiber recycling”, consortium consisting of research be operated by waste and recycling Maria Elander, who is leading the proj- institutes, authorities and actors from company Sysav, which also financially ect for IVL, was quoted. The project different parts of the value chain for supports the project. had previously shown that automated textiles: Berendsen, Boer Group, Eco textile sorting has the potential to pro- TLC, Gina Tricot, HM, Human Bridge, Twenty-one major Swedish textile, vide both a high degree of separation Ica, Ikea, Kappahl, Swedish Chemicals fashion and furniture companies, and high purity in the sorted textile Inspectorate, Cycle and water, Malmö municipalities, charities, research fractions. City, Ants, Swedish Environmental institutes and authorities, led by IVL Protection Agency, Re: newcell, Red Swedish Environmental Institute, col- The SIPTex plant uses near-infrared Cross, Stadium, Stockholm water and laborate in the SIPTex project. Accord- and visual spectroscopy to sort mixed wastewater, Sysav and VTT. ing to the information, the potential textile waste. The technology has been for increasing textile recycling in tested and optimized to meet the w www.ivl.se/english Sweden is enormous, as only about needs of potential customers in a pilot w www.vinnova.se/en/p/swedish-in- five percent of the textiles placed on plant over one year, IVL underlined. novation-platform-for-textile-sorting- the Swedish market are recycled. “The results and know-how gained siptex/

Yarn Collection Made of Recycled Materials Belgian company European Group (ESG) offers an upcycled yarn collection of recycled cotton, recycled or recycled , blended with virgin raw white and dope dyed for environmentally friendly circular fabrics with optimal performance. As reported on www.circulary.eu, more than 40,000 kilograms of post-consumer material was recycled and upcycled with the ESG “Green” collection. The recycled post-consumer yarns of the denim collection would generate the following environmental savings (per kg):

— 50 % Denim / 50 % Tencel: 3,485 liters (l) water, 1.58 kilogram (kg) CO2 emission, 6.32 kilowatt-hours (kWh) energy.

— 25 % Denim / 25 % Tencel / 50 % Viscose: 1,743 l water, 0.79 kg CO2 emission, 3.20 kWh energy.

— 25 % Denim / 25 % Tencel / 50 % rPET: 1,743 l water, 1kg CO2 emission, 5.40 kWh energy.

The energy use in the spinning mill is optimized by using solar energy, ESG underlined. “Designing smarter in terms of disassembly and reuse is taken into account during every step.” Furthermore, the company has initiated the #hac- kyourjeans project as an on- and offline platform, resulting from a cooperation between ESG and (social) industry, education, designers and network organizations. “The project entails circular product development and awareness creation on project design, eco-design, eco-awareness and social impact of the circular economy”, ESG explained. w www.esg-group.eu/en/collections/green

32 global-recycling.info MARKETS Unlocking the Value of “Hidden” Metals ¢ By Peter Streinik, metal recycling specialist, Untha shredding technology

he world of metal recycling is tages of liberating valuable metals is Mindful of the limited revenue poten- Tnever straightforward, with some- fairly widely acknowledged. tial associated with these approaches, times the slightest market variable recyclers elsewhere are investing in causing significant volatility in global Effective material more sophisticated processing lines trade. But throw Covid-19 into the liberation strategies complete with shredder, overband mix, and like many industries, scrap magnet to extract ferrous metals, eddy became an even more complex place That is not to say the process is current separator (ECS) to separate to be. straightforward or that recycling rates any non-ferrous metals, and optical are always maximized. Many operators sorter to clean anything the ECS has When the lockdown was first an- rely only on traditional, cumbersome not already refined. The greater the nounced, certain countries, such as shear equipment to cut metals down level of quality metals recovered, the Italy, brought everything to a halt. Oth- because the perceived high-wear higher the revenue potential. The re- ers saw reduced capacity, with only 40 nature of metal shredding is deemed covery of high-worth platinum group percent of larger yards remaining op- metals (PGMs) and rare earth metals erational in France, for example, and (REMs) could make for a particularly smaller to medium-sized sites closing profitable operation. their doors. Merchants were restricted by curfew hours in places like Saudi “Undiscovered” metal Arabia, while in the UK and USA, the recycling opportunities industry was granted critical status, meaning yards could stay open. It was Some operators are already familiar perhaps unsurprising to see such geo- with such “best practice” metal recy- graphical variances, which added to cling methodology, and are conse- the difficulties surrounding the move- quently exploring the market to see ment of materials in the earlier weeks. “what’s next?”. It is a good thing that There have certainly been periods of they are searching for further oppor- slower trade, but there have also been tunities because they do exist in the Peter Streinik rallying cries for scrap businesses to form of “wastes” that are notoriously get the credit they deserve for being tricky to handle. But with engineer- the lifeblood of the resource sector. ing advancements and clever process design, heightened recovery rates are Our own – albeit anecdotal – conversa- too cost-prohibitive. However, de- certainly achievable. tions with the industry have revealed pendence on this basic shear meth- several large MRFs and metal recycling odology means alternative sorting, Millions of bulky end-of-life mattresses specialists pressing ahead with inno- grading, separation and size-reduction are disposed of per year, in the UK vations when it comes to the handling processes are overlooked and metal alone, for example – with many of of scrap. Because still, too much recyclate quality typically remains low them being dumped illegally. But it is metallurgical content remains hidden as a result. possible to size reduce 200 of these or locked within redundant products, per hour with slow-speed, high torque which continues to limit the amount Machinery such as high-speed ham- and economical machinery. Then of material salvaged for smelting. And mer mills – which work by smashing clean flock can be used for alterna-

Photo: Untha shredding technology some niche operators are determined material into smaller pieces with tive fuels and the metal extracted for to address this. They are looking to the repeated impact blows – typically cre- smelting. That is an important waste future. ate vast amounts of dust. This dust is stream to get to grips with, considering useless, costly and it poses a fire and the ambitious landfill diversion targets When it comes to composite materials operator wellbeing risk. This process for mattresses. within small and large domestic appli- also struggles to achieve the particle But this is not the only tricky applica- ances for example – as well as many refinement required for downstream tion where metal recycling potential other types of WEEE/e-scrap too – the separation technologies to effectively remains untapped. The global waste environmental and commercial advan- do their job. industry is sitting up and paying

GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 33 MARKETS more attention to tire processing, for clients is generating more than 3,000 been avoided. But so many people are instance, given the growing demand British Pound (editor’s note: about focusing on processing the “good” – or for tire derived fuel (TDF). However, 3,760 US-Dollar) of revenue per week easy – material. Only by developing a valuable by-product of a savvy tire from the sale of clean metals extracted ways to treat dirtier or more complex handling line is metals, which would directly off the magnet belt. The differ- materials will we be able to establish otherwise remain trapped in these ence with these latter described appli- truly closed-loop models that turn bulky, toxic products. That is not all cations is that they are renowned for more “waste” products into reusable – one of our waste wood shredding being difficult and, as such, have long resources.

Switzerland Helps to Boost Egypt’s E-Waste Recycling Industry

n March this year, Switzerland and carried out by thousands of indi- IEgypt agreed to extend the Sustain- vidual workers in what is referred to able Recycling Industries (SRI) project as the “informal” sector. This involves – originally launched in the country in numerous risks, such as environmen- 2016 and completed in 2018 – through tal pollution, health hazards and the an additional grant contribution for cross-contamination of hazardous the period 2020-2023. The first project, substances. In general, there is a lack launched 2016 in Egypt, aimed to of quality and sustainability standards. support sustainable integration and The State Secretariat of Economic participation of small and medium- Affairs (SECO) has been developing sized enterprises in the recycling knowledge partnerships in the area of of electronic waste (e-waste) in the e-waste since 2003. country. The project was successfully that will execute the second phase of completed in 2018, SRI gave account. the project is the Swiss Federal Labo- As part of the “Swiss e-Waste Pro- “The continuation of the project for ratories for Materials Sciences and gramme”, Switzerland has supported the period 2019-2023 seeks to consoli- Technology (EMPA), together with the India, China, South Africa as well as date the outcomes achieved so far.” World Resources Forum and Sofies. Columbia and Peru in their efforts to The new activities would address the The local implementing partner is the improve their e-waste management remaining challenges and “contribute Ministry of Communications and Infor- systems. Meanwhile, appropriate regu- positively to the areas of policy and mation Technology and the Centre for lations have been enacted in virtually legislation, standard requirements, Environment and Development for the every partner country. These results technology and business develop- Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE). have led to the development of a com- ment”. prehensive approach in the form of According to the information on the the “Sustainable Recycling Industries” As reported by the Egyptian Ministry SRI homepage, the extension in Egypt (SRI) follow-up program. of Communications and Information is part of a larger program that will be Technology (MCIT), the Ministry of En- implemented in five countries: Egypt, The development objective of SRI vironment, in collaboration with MCIT, Colombia, Ghana, Peru and South is the sustainable integration and “has been inventorying the e-waste re- Africa, with total funding of 6.5 million participation of small and medium cycling sector, with the size of e-waste Swiss Francs (about 6.7 million US- enterprises from developing and tran- in Egypt amounting to 88,000 tons, an- Dollar). The funding is shared from the sition countries in the global recycling nually”. The Environment Ministry had Swiss State Secretariat for Economic of secondary resources. The program also developed legislations “to trans- Affairs (SECO). organization includes experts and form the unofficial e-waste sector into builds strong local partnerships with an official one, in cooperation with the About SRI governmental organizations, industry Photo: O. Kürth United Nations Development Program and the civil society. (UNDP), through the safe disposal of In developing countries, the recovery e-waste project”. The Swiss agency of materials from waste is mainly w www.sustainable-recycling.org

34 global-recycling.info MARKETS SCIP – The New ECHA-Database for Substances of Concern ¢ Author: Dr. Dipl. Chem. Beate Kummer

CIP stands for “substances of The main target of the database start- in the EU, there are highly complex Sconcern in products” and is a new ing in January 2021 is to finally remove supply chains during the production database that will be set up by the such hazardous substances from the process. It is usual to find hundreds European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) economic cycle and thus be one step of suppliers in Asian countries or and be accessible in all Member States closer to the EU Commission’s goal of on other continents. However, the of the European Union (EU). a “Toxic-Free Environment”. database can only be “fed” if all the necessary information from all suppli- It is planned to feed it with information However, all manufacturing compa- ers is available. Manufacturers of less on “substances of concern” in prod- nies are well-advised to get to grips complex products such as packaging, ucts. This information will be made with it as quickly as possible, because toys, or textiles are also affected. available to waste recycling com- data acquisition will be the real chal- panies, which will then know which lenge. For example, when a car or elec- ¢ Read the whole article on w www. waste streams contain that material. tronic device is placed on the market global-recycling.info/archive/4027

USA: Recycling of Coal Mine Equipment

he metal division of Land Bet- certain areas of its Jasonville (Indiana) used at the mine, to be recycled and Tterment Corporation can clean property to receive, store, and process to further accelerate the Company’s up the environment by entering into retired coal railcars to be recycled and sustainable community development a partnership to recycle retired coal reused for alternative, modern pur- project slated to be built on this site”. railcars and old coal mine infrastruc- poses. Additionally, the partner “will Land Betterment is in the process of a ture. As reported, it has entered into have the ability to assist Land Bet- major environmental remediation and a multiyear agreement with a “third terment expedite the reclamation of project at the former Lan- party scrap metal company”. Under the old Gold Star coal mine (formerly dree Mine, which was bought through the terms of the partnership agree- known as the Landree Mine) through an asset purchase in August 2019 from ment, the company will allocate processing metal infrastructure, once an insolvent hedge fund. MARKETS Applying Standards to the Circular Economy ¢ By Natalie Mouyal

he circular economy calls for a How standards can help Tradical shift in production and consumption. Continual cycles recover To facilitate products to last longer, and restore products, components standards are needed to ensure that, and materials through strategies such amongst others, product safety, as reuse, repair, remanufacture and, performance and reliability are suffi- ultimately, recycling. It is a systemic ciently taken into account. Issues such approach to managing resources. as data removal and security must also be considered as products are reused Material efficiency is an essential part and change ownership. of the circular economy. It consists of Natalie Mouyal, IEC the preservation of materials by mak- Moreover, a holistic approach is Communications Officer ing products more durable and repair- needed to ensure that the protection able. It also facilitates the recovery and of the environment is not detrimental recycling of material at the end of the to areas such as product safety, EMC product life. The ultimate objective of tiple owners, manufacturers should and performance. The legislation is ex- material efficiency is to keep materi- also facilitate upgrades of soft- and pected to require the increased use of als in use for as long as possible – and hardware and the removal of sensitive used parts as well as products that can potentially forever. data. Also, parts should be designed to more easily be repaired or remanu- endure multiple cleaning and dis- and factured. Standardized methods and Material efficiency can be placed into reassembly cycles. Products should be tools will be needed to assess aspects a hierarchy during a product’s use designed for an efficient end-of-life. such as the proportion of reused and waste phases. The most favor- That means that useful materials and components or recycled content in a able strategies call for the design of components can be easily and safely product, and how to assess the ease products associated with a longer recuperated by, for instance, making (or difficulty) with which a product can product life using the least amount the product easy to disassemble. be repaired or remanufactured. Also, of natural resources, while the least favorable strategies represent the loss of a material resource by incinerating the material and recovering its energy. In a truly circular economy, landfills are not an acceptable option.

Designing products for material efficiency

In the design phase, manufacturers should consider the materials used in the construction of a product. For ex- ample, they can try to reduce the num- ber of materials used by optimizing the product design and by selecting recycled materials or reused com- ponents. Focusing on the use phase, products should be designed in such a way that their lifetime can be extended Photo/Graphic: IEC by making them easy to repair and upgrade or reuse. Since products will be reused (including refurbishment or remanufactured), and thus have mul-

36 global-recycling.info MARKETS standards will be needed to guarantee — IEC 62309 which examines the de- IEC work permits universal access the properties of the used material as pendability of products containing to electricity, ensures that electri- well as to define the requirements for used parts. cal and electronic hardware and parts reliability. — IEC 63077 which specifies the pro- devices function, and helps enable cess for ensuring the performance world trade. It empowers coun- Within the IEC – International Elec- and safety of refurbished medical tries to participate in global value trotechnical Commission, several imaging equipment. chains and companies to build committees have developed standards safe, efficient products that can be that support material efficiency for New standards covering requirements sold everywhere. w www.iec.ch electrical and electronic products. for material efficiency in the design Some examples include: of products, such as circular ready — IEC TR 62635 with information on — IEC TR 62824 with guidance about design, are needed, and plans are un- product end of life, including the material efficiency considerations in derway to start such standardization recyclability rate calculation. the eco-design of products. work in the IEC.

Portugal Suspends Waste Imports

ortugal has suspended imports fees: The treatment of a ton would since the start of the year, and no Pof waste until the end of 2020 to cost 11 Euro; the European average new imports would be accepted. The protect domestic landfill capacity, is about 80 Euro. “This decision is government is due to revise its laws news agency Reuters reported in May, intended to ensure we have sufficient on landfills and waste management referring to a statement of the govern- national capacity in waste processing this summer, as waste reduction and ment. The country usually attracts facilities”, the government was quot- recycling targets become harder to waste from other European states ed. The country had already blocked attain due to the pandemic, the news because of its low waste management 246,000 tons of waste from entering agency stated.

October 2020 WORLD RECYCLINGNew CONVENTION date : (11) & EXHIBITION12-14 POSTPONED!ISTANBUL / (17) 18-20 MAY 2020 ALUMINIUM 2020 SWISSÔTEL THE BOSPHORUS REGISTER NOW! PROVISIONAL 13th World Trade Fair & Conference www.bir.org/istanbul2020 SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS MONDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2020

09.30 Opening Session 10.30 Spotlight on Trade 12.00 World Council of Recycling Associations 13.00 Networking luncheon 14.00 International Environment Council Promocode 15.30 Non-Ferrous Metals Division 17.00 Paper Division GR2020 19.30 Welcome Evening

TUESDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2020 Attend our next global recycling event and maximise your 09.30 Ferrous Division 10.30 Shredder Committee international business outreach! 12.00 E-Scrap Committee 13.00 Networking luncheon 14.00 Keynote Session GET YOUR TICKET NOW • High-level attendance by industry professionals from across 15.00 General Assembly (TBC) the globe – the best opportunity to meet decision makers 16.00 Stainless Steel & Special Alloys Committee 06 – 08 October 2020 relevant to your business and secure deals 17.00 Textiles Division • International platform for the recycling industry: More Exhibition Centre Düsseldorf, Germany than 70 nationalities from around the world, making the WEDNESDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2020 event truly international and a great place to out new developments and build partnerships 09.00 Plastics Committee www.aluminium-exhibition.com/tickets 11.00 Tyres & Rubber Committee • Takes place in a different country / on a different continent each year, with an unmatched reputation for producing fruitful networking events in amazing surroundings More information on the Convention Programme, • Featuring a broad conference programme including the latest Online Registration and Sponsorship recycling industry news and market updates Opportunities on www.bir.org/istanbul2020

BIR – THE GLOBAL FEDERATION OF RECYCLING INDUSTRIES Bureau of International Recycling (aisbl) T. +32 2 627 57 70 [email protected] Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 24 F. +32 2 627 57 73 www.bir.org 1050 Brussels - Belgium @BIRworld

Officially supported by MACHINERY Advertorial: Global Launch on a Digital Platform

n June, Tomra Sorting Recycling High-speed sorting with air Ilaunched globally – via internet – the new generation technology “Autosort” Delegates of Tomra’s digital launch and “Autosort Speedair”, and also out- event also found out about another lined plans for the forthcoming launch new product. “Autosort Speedair” of a third new solution. is an additional component to the “Autosort” range and is designed “The ‘Symphony of all Sorts’ theme to stabilize light materials such as was chosen to reflect the way in which plastic films or paper on a high-speed the latest generation Autosort and conveyor, thus generating a higher Volker Rehrmann, its complementary products create a throughput and enhancing sorting perfectly harmonized symphony to Executive Vice President, quality. The system incorporates sort all kinds of waste with advanced Head of Tomra Recycling/ speed-controlled fan-driven air inlets accuracy and sophistication,” the com- Mining & Circular Economy that generate a constant air stream pany explained. At the digital event, over the conveyor belt to prevent experts from across Tomra’s global material from moving. By doubling teams delivered presentations about the speed of the conveyor belts up to the latest products. six meters per second, “throughput is much higher and the output quality is Based on the positive feedback consistently high”. Customers benefit received from professionals, the from a better return on investment, as manufacturer anticipates high levels of well as lower installation and running interest in the most advanced model costs, Tomra underlined. “Addition- of its new generation system. “Com- ally, as the first system on the market pact, highly flexible and upgradable, dard is the “Sharp Eye” technology: with no belt cover, access to the unit Autosort brings together the very lat- It increases the light efficiency while for maintenance is much faster and est in Tomra’s technologies to deliver maintaining the same energy con- the likelihood of a material blockage is advanced accuracy of complex sorting sumption, enhances sorting sharpness much lower compared to conventional tasks at high throughput rates.” The and improves the separation of dif- high-speed systems in the market, as system could be easily integrated into ficult to target fractions. The unit also is the risk of machine downtime.” any existing or new sorting processes, incorporates the latest and improved as a great number of initial pilot proj- version of the manufacturer’s patent- With sorting and recycling plants ects have confirmed. ed “Flying Beam” sensing technology, demanding even higher levels of the provider informed. “Better light automation than ever before, Tomra According to the provider, the machine efficiency enables higher performance will launch later its first robot, the is “capable of separating materials, at low operating costs, compact design “Autosort Cybot”. The system would which are difficult or even impos- enables flexible and easy installation comprise a new generation Autosort sible to separate using conventional and enhanced light signal efficiency scanner, an electromagnetic sensor technologies”. Incorporated as stan- results in improved detection.” and a robot arm. “It is the first robot on the market that combines four Optional technologies include the technologies at once: Near Infrared new “Deep Laiser”. Its object recogni- (NIR) and Visible Light (VIS) spectros- tion would enable a deeper sorting copy, “Deep Laiser” and if required,

sharpness to improve the performance induction for ferrous and non-ferrous Photos: TOMRA Sorting GmbH of the sorting process. “Another ap- metals recovery.” Prior to its official plication area is the use of Artificial launch, material tests can be carried Intelligence via Deep Learning,” the out at Tomra‘s Test Center to confirm company underlined and assured that its capabilities. the technique developed by Tomra is one of the first fully integrated Deep w www.symphonyofallsorts.com/ Autosort Speedair Learning systems on the market. autosort

38 global-recycling.info MACHINERY Advertorial: Artificial Intelligence: The Recycling Revolution

he evolution of artificial intel- Tligence these past years has been dazzling. On the one hand, there is a permanent competition in the field of software to have leading algorithms, the most innovative and “deep” neural networks, and to see which one is the one more implemented and spread through the different industrial sec- tors. On the other hand, the field of hardware has evolved through the manufacturers of devices because of “gaming”, to make the computation of the beforementioned algorithms affordable.

We are living a moment of a techno- logical revolution. The industry’s need to pivot towards industry 4.0 is causing tainable for the recycling sector. The the entry of new technologies capable company has approximated different of disrupting and modifying the in- solutions to latent problems in the dustrial status quo. This mix of factors recycling sector by integrating artificial and improvements is happening at an intelligence to both optical sorters and astonishing speed and allows human robotic units.

Photos: Picvisa Machine Vision Systems beings to put within the industry’s reach and automation sector applica- This list below shows six possible tions that had been discarded until solutions the product Brain by Picvisa now. offers to the market: 1. Recovery Solution: allows recovery Picvisa has joined this generated eco- of recoverable material such as PET system as a propellant and implanter bottles, HDPE, bricks, cans of end of of this technological revolution to offer line treatment flows its customers innovative solutions and 2. Tray Solution: allows separating highly competitive value so far unat- food trays from bottles of the same

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GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 39 MACHINERY

material, simply by their shape, We are living a a great specialization of the solution color and texture allowing customized solutions for moment of a tech- 3. Film Solution: allows to separate Picvisa’s clients. film (PE bags) from bottles of the nological revolution. same material, simply by its shape, Picvisa considers the implementation color and texture of artificial intelligence throughout its 4. Silicone Solution: allows separating product catalog as a strategic axis in the silicone tubes always existing in its development. The company wants the HDPE flows The solutions presented allow auto- to be a pioneer and promoter of the 5. Glass Solution: allows the glass to mating processes that until now could application of artificial intelligence in be separated by colors only be manual because they required the recycling sector. It is Picvisa’s way 6. Medicine Solution: allows in a flow a high level of flow interpretation that of playing a part in the contributions of mixed medicines to select those the existing algorithmic was not able to a more sustainable society. specific ones that you want to sepa- to solve. But as the company’s solu- rate tions show, the new algorithmic allows w www.picvisa.com

ADuro Shredders: New Product Line for Recycling

ustria-based international down to 50 millimeters. The robust Atechnology Group Andritz has shredder is powerful, energy-efficient, launched its new ADuro product line reliable and maintenance-friendly, the for primary and secondary shredding, manufacturer assured. fine granulation as well as for breaking up material composites. The single-shaft machine ADuro U shreds the material with only one step “ADuro shredders feature highest to the required size. With integrated durability and are perfectly suited to screens from 10 to 150 millimeters, processing almost all raw materials in output quality and throughput can the recycling industry”, the company be customized. The robust machine is emphasized. “They can be installed powerful, energy-efficient, reliable and easily in existing facilities, thus keep- maintenance-friendly. ing shutdown times during installation to a minimum.” The latest member of Last but not least, the ADuro M shred- this product family is a compact sec- der is suited for fine granulation of ondary shredder with an extra robust the optimum operating point”, Michael used tires, plastics and cables and is design. With a rotor length of 3,200 Waupotitsch, Vice President of Andritz mainly used as the final shredding millimeters and “some unique design Recycling, is cited. “The Andritz step in a complete recycling process. features, the machine is a powerful automation tools can be tailored to The machine reduces the input mate- tool for shredding refuse-derived fuels individual customer needs and pro- rial to a particle size of less than four and municipal solid waste as well as vide powerful capabilities to monitor millimeters and thus breaks up the commercial or industrial waste”. The machine behavior and improve plant last remaining material composites. new shredder would be launched in reliability.” “The results are defined, pure-grade, July this year. granule-sized secondary raw materi- The ADuro product line comprises a als”, Andritz said. “The individual frac- Some examples of broad range of machines: The P shred- tions, such as copper, aluminum and the product family der is a slow rotating pre-shredder plastics, can be separated with a metal with electric drive and hydraulic pen- separator to be available with high Source: Andritz “The ADuro brand name reflects our dulum feeder, with low energy con- purity and a quality that can be used strong focus on R&D and stands for sumption. It processes large quantities to make new products.” a continuously enhanced shredder of domestic, commercial, industrial design with IIoT features to achieve and bulky waste into manageable sizes w www.andritz.com/aduro

40 global-recycling.info MACHINERY Advertorial: Cross Wrap Helps to Update Recycling Operations

innish machine manufacturer FCross Wrap Oy has been providing automatic bale wrapping machines for over 26 years. The company’s original Cross Wrap bale wrapping method has become an industry- standard in waste and alternative fuel bale wrapping. Today Cross Wrap’s lineup consists of machines for bale wrapping, automa­tic bale openen- ing, bale dewiring, and board product packaging. More than 500 Cross Wrap machines in over 55 different coun- tries are in use today.

Covid-19 brought a situation the Cross Wrap Bale Dewiring increases operation safety and world has never seen before. Changes efficiency in bale dewiring and can be used in plastic needed to be done immediately in the recycling and in paper recycling company’s processes and sales. Today all actions are done remotely, and operations have been running without problems. Manual bale wire cutting is not in is a safe and efficient solution. If bales level with safety regulations of a are wrapped in film, the automatic and CW Bale Dewiring in recycling plants socially responsible company that safe bale opening solution is the CW – Automation in material feeding cares about their employee’s health Bale Opener. and well-being. “This may still be the “Well yes, I cannot believe why this reality in many recycling plants that The CW Dewiring machine is used is still done inside a plastic recycling receive their material in bales, but we in several sectors in recycling, and plant where all the latest technology are happy that things are changing the first machine was developed for is in use. Manual bale wire cutting in towards safer and more efficient mate- a paper mill in Finland in 2015. After material infeed is something we want rial feeding in recycling plants around the first pilot and testing phase, Cross to get rid of, it is dangerous work and the world”, Eetu Laatikainen contin- Wrap started to market the Dewiring a task that shouldn’t be manual in ues. If a plastic recycling plant or any machine in 2017. Today, there are over 2020.” Cross Wrap Oy Sales Manager other material recycling plant is receiv- 25 machines in use in 12 countries in Eetu Laatikainen remembers a cus- ing its recyclable material in bales, CW sectors such as mixed plastic recy- tomer’s note. (Cross Wrap) Bale Dewiring machine cling, PET recycling, straw (Bagasse),

EU-Recycling – The Business Magazine for the European Recycling Market! Facts, Backgrounds, Reports made in Europe. www.eu-recycling.com

GLOBAL RECYCLING 2/2020 41 MACHINERY paper mills using recycled cardboard cross wrapped bales don’t let oxygen the past 26 years, we were pleased to and paper, Waste to Energy, etc. inside”, Eetu Laatikainen summarizes. see how broad audience we could get One key feature is also the benefit of to the online webinar”, Eetu Laatikain- CW Bale wrapping – Possibilities in transporting materials in wrapped en explains. material handling bales. Therefore, normal trucks and lorries can be used instead of garbage After traveling restrictions is going to Cross Wrap’s most known machines trucks. That helps to bring down trans- free up slowly, Cross Wrap sees that are the CW Bale Wrappers. These port costs, gives new possibilities for business traveling will not need to Bale wrappers have been engineered efficient alternative fuel transport, and rise to the same level as it was before for the waste and recycling industry opens the possibility for alternative the crisis. “Webinars are actions that needs, and during the past 26 years, fuels export. we will keep on doing. Each company this unique and patented bale wrap- – Cross Wrap included – has become ping solution has become the industry Cross Wrap and Covid-19 better in using online meeting tools, standard in waste bale wrapping. adjustments and we may avoid some traveling and unnecessary flights across the globe “When listening to the customers, we “We started the Cross Wrap Webinars in the future. For sure, we will still be have heard examples such as: ‘This shortly after it was clear that no trade participating in the most important Cross Wrap machine is what we need. fairs, seminars, or conferences would exhibitions and seminars in the future My company is having storage prob- be held in the coming months. As when it is safe again”, Eetu Laatikainen lems with alternative fuel, as the bulk traveling is not possible, we wanted to says and welcomes all who are inter- material warehouse burned down in a have a platform to keep in touch with ested in participating in the next Cross fire.’ We can solve these kinds of prob- our partners and customers. In the Wrap Free Webinars held online. lems with Cross Wrap bale wrapping”, latest webinar, there were registrations Eetu Laatikainen explains. from 45 countries. As we have sold ¢ Contact: [email protected] machines to over 55 countries during w www.crosswrap.com “The automatic bale wrapping offers many benefits to our customers such as saving space during storage; the Eetu Laatikainen, Cross Wrap Sales storages remain clean, and there are Manager for Germany, Switzerland, and no rats or birds nor neighbors who are complaining of waste and litter flying Austria in the wind. Baling and wrapping also help to avoid the risk of fire as the Photos: Cross Wrap Ltd.

Cross Wrap automatic bale wrapping has become an industry standard operating model in waste-to-energy operations

42 global-recycling.info EVENTS Paper Vietnam 2020 November 11 – 13, 2020, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)

he Paper Vietnam 2020 exhibition, economic sectors in terms of scale Vietnam in 2018 reached 3.818 million Twhich was scheduled to take place and number of established enter- tons, up by 20 percent over the same in June, is postponed because of the prises over the last decade. Aiming period, making it the highest growth Covid-19 pandemic. The event is re- to be the next “Factory of The World”, rate of Vietnam’s packaging paper in- scheduled to November and will take Vietnam is ranked as the most dy- dustry in the history”, the information place at the Saigon Exhibition Conven- namic FMCG (fast-moving consumer on the homepage says. The plastic tion Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. goods) markets in Southeast Asia with packaging had also seen a robust As reported, Paper Vietnam will be consumer goods growth rates of 12,8 development “thanks to great growth held in conjunction with the Packaging percent in Ho Chi Minh City, 12 percent achieved by the food sector”. More- Print & Label Vietnam Expo 2020. The in Da Nang and 10 percent in Hanoi, over, recycling will also be a topic. packaging industry in the country is the organizer informed. “The total considered as one of the fast-growing consumption of packaging paper in w www.paper-vietnam.com

SUM 2020 November 18 – 20, 2020, Venice (Italy)

UM 2020 – 5th Symposium on Ur- (Italy), has been rescheduled due to ber 2020. According to the organizers, Sban Mining and Circular Economy, the Covid-19 public health emergency. the combination of the two conferenc- organized by IWWG – International The event will be co-located with es will allow building an international Waste Working Group, will be held in another IWWG event: Venice 2020 – 8th reference event in the field of circular Venice (Italy) from 18th to 20th No- International Symposium on Energy economy and recovery of resources vember 2020. from Biomass and Waste, already from waste, both in terms of materials scheduled to take place in Venice at and energy. The Symposium, originally planned the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni for 18th to 20th May 2020 in Bologna Evangelista, from 16th to 19th Novem- w www.urbanmining.it

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RUF_M_18_GRc_210x101_GB_oM.indd 1 04.06.20 15:15 EVENTS eREC – The Virtual Expo for the Recycling Industry August 31 – September 5, 2020, online

t is time for a new, digital event. Apart from presenting the newest ITherefore, eREC will take place from products and ideas, every exhibitor the 31st of August to the 5th of Sep- has the chance to take part in the tember 2020. It is the perfect opportu- extensive framework program – either nity for exhibitors and visitors to enjoy as a passive participant or as an active the advantages of digital networking. speaker. All visitors can access the tates the national and international framework program and take part in Currently, the whole world is facing exchange between companies and discussions, webinars, live presenta- uncertainty and restrictions due to the customers. Companies can use this tions, and interviews, which will focus current Corona-Crisis. Undoubtedly, platform to present themselves, their on different topics of the recycling the pandemic has a severe impact on newest products or innovations, and industry. daily life. That includes that industries generate new and precious leads while such as the recycling industry have to enjoying the advantages of online Everyone, no matter where he is, deal with a flood of canceled events, networking. Accordingly, the digital can go online and explore the virtual fairs, and congresses. However, along recycling expo and conference is the world of eREC. That is the place where with these negative impacts, we are best opportunity to present oneself international companies, custom- experiencing an upsurge of fresh to customers without any travel costs ers, experts, and decision-makers innovations. Accordingly, the word involved. come together. Just a few clicks, and “digitalization” takes on a whole new all visitors, exhibitors, and speakers meaning, and suddenly there is an Every exhibitor creates a virtual stand can easily access the virtual world of alternative to compensate for post- and uploads brochures, videos, or the new “Digital Recycling Expo and ponements and cancellations. information material accessible to all Conference for Circular Economy and visitors. Moreover, visitors can visit all Waste Management”. This event serves as a virtual platform booths, see new products, and get in for the recycling industry and facili- touch with the exhibitors via live chat. w www.erec.info

The Magazine for GLOBAL RECYCLING – The Magazine Business Opportunities Publication Frequency: & International Markets for Business Opportunities & GLOBAL The magazine appears three times a year. If the magazine cannot International Markets RECYCLING appear due to force majeure, such as a strike, this shall not give rise to any claims against the publishing house. Attributed contributions 6. Volume 2020 do not necessarily represent the opinion of the editors. For unsolic- ISSN-Print 2365-7928, ISSN-Internet 2365-7936 ited sent-in manuscripts and photo material the publishing house does not assume any liability. No part of this publication may be Publisher: reproduced, included in online services and the Internet or transmit- MSV Mediaservice & Verlag GmbH ted by any means without written permission of the MSV GmbH. All Münchner Str. 48, D-82239 Alling GT Biburg, GERMANY information have been compiled with the greatest care, however, no Tel.: +49 (0) 81 41 / 53 00 20, Fax: +49 (0) 81 41 / 53 00 21 responsibility is taken for the correctness. E-Mail: [email protected] Responsible for the Content: Oliver Kürth Printers: StieberDruck GmbH, 97922 Lauda-Königshofen Editors: Brigitte Weber (Editor-in-Chief) Closing for the Next Issue: Tel.: +49 (0) 26 43 / 68 39, E-Mail: [email protected] 3/2020 – 08.09.2020 (Release Date: 08.10.2020) Dr. Jürgen Kroll, E-Mail: [email protected] Topics: Ecomondo-/Pollutec-Special, Urban Development & E- Mobility, IoT (Internet of Things), Software in the Recycling Industry, Advertising Sales: E-Waste Recycling, WEEE, Battery Recycling, Car & Diana Betz, Tel.: +49 (0) 81 41 / 53 00 19, E-Mail: [email protected] Julia Huß, Tel.: +49 (0) 81 41 / 22 44 13, E-Mail: [email protected] facebook.com/eurecycling Melanie Stangl, Tel.: +49 (0) 81 41 / 22 44 13, E-Mail: [email protected] F t twitter.com/recyclingportal Advertisement Price List No. 37 currently valid. A instagram.com/msvgmbh/ l de.linkedin.com/company/msv-gmbh Media Planner 2020: http://bit.ly/msvmedia-37 w global-recycling.info • eu-recycling.com • recyclingportal.eu

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INT_Global Recycling Magazine_New AS_06_2020.indd 1 27.05.2020 14:55:43