How much can chemical recycling contribute to plastic waste recycling in Europe?

Context

Plastic waste is a major environmental concern globally. In Europe alone, 29.1 million tonnes of plastic waste were generated in 2019, yet only 33% entered recycling facilities, with as little as 15% ultimately being effectively recycled. The bulk of plastic waste continues to be incinerated, landfilled, or lost in informal waste streams. To address this issue, the European Commission has set targets to increase recycling rates and the use of recycled plastic, for instance, aiming for a 55% recycling rate for plastic packaging by 2030.

Mechanical Recycling vs. Chemical Recycling

Currently, mechanical recycling (MR) is the dominant recycling technology. However, it faces limitations, especially when dealing with contaminated or complex plastic waste streams. Chemical recycling (CR) is increasingly being considered as a complementary solution. CR processes, such as pyrolysis, gasification, and depolymerization, have a higher tolerance for certain foreign polymers and could process materials that are unsuitable for MR. Yet, such technologies require attention regarding undesirable heteroelements; for example, the existence of halogens could result in the corrosion of processing equipment and reactors, while certain metals might contaminate the used catalysts. Despite the potential, CR is still in its early stages and accounts for less than 0.2 million tonnes of waste processed in Europe.

Study Overview

The research compares the 2018 status of plastic waste treatment with five potential scenarios for 2030. The most optimistic scenario envisions a combination of improved mechanical recycling and expanded chemical recycling, projecting an estimated end-of-life recycling rate (EoL-RR, calculated as the ratio between the total mass (in kt) of polymer and base chemicals that is produced from the plastic waste treatments over the waste generated.) of 80±3%. This includes 46±3% polymer-to-polymer from mechanical recycling, while the chemical recycling and solvent-based recycling result in 15±1% polymer-to-polymer, 19±1% plastic-to-chemical, and 3% plastic-to-fuels. In contrast, a scenario focusing purely on optimized MR without CR would result in an estimated recycling rate of 49±3%.

Key Findings

1. EoL Recycling Rate: The study projects that by 2030, the highest achievable EoL recycling rate for plastics could be up to 80% under the most favorable conditions, driven by both mechanical and chemical recycling advancements. Of this, 61% would be plastic-to-plastic recycling, either through mechanical or chemical processes.

2. Plastic-to-Fuel Rate: The rate of converting plastics to fuels remains low in all future scenarios, ranging from 3% to 6%.

3. Handling 'Missing Plastics': The study highlights the importance of addressing the so-called ‘missing plastics’ – plastic waste not accounted for in official statistics. By incorporating these into future recycling systems, the recycling rate could improve substantially. The authors estimate that the 'missing plastics' could account for an additional 15-30% of the total plastic waste by 2030.

4. Sector-Specific Performance: The study emphasizes that different sectors have varying potentials for recycling improvements. The building and construction sector shows the highest potential, with an EoL recycling rate of up to 84%, while the automotive sector lags behind with a projected rate of 72%.

The Role of Innovation

While the study shows that chemical recycling can significantly increase recycling rates and circularity, it also emphasizes the need for continued innovation. CR technologies like pyrolysis, gasification, and depolymerization need further development to address specific technological challenges and enhance their cost-effectiveness. These processes also produce a variety of outputs, including fuels, which present regulatory challenges as they are not classified as ‘recycled content’ according to the fuel-use exempt model to calculate the chemically recycled content in plastics.

Conclusion

The findings illustrate that chemical recycling can play a pivotal role in increasing plastic recycling rates and contributing to the European Union’s circular economy targets. However, achieving these results requires technological advancements and a robust regulatory framework. Mechanical recycling will continue to be essential, but chemical recycling can complement it by processing waste streams that are currently incinerated or landfilled. Innovation in both recycling technologies and waste management infrastructure will be crucial to meet the EU’s 2030 goals.

This article sets the stage for a broader discussion on the future of chemical recycling, making it clear that innovation in this field is not just an option but a necessity.

Read the study:

How much can chemical recycling contribute to plastic waste recycling in Europe? An assessment using material flow analysis modeling,

Irdanto Saputra Lase, Davide Tonini, Dario Caro, Paola F. Albizzati, Jorge Cristóbal, Martijn Roosen, Marvin Kusenberg, Kim Ragaert, Kevin M. Van Geem, Jo Dewulf, Steven De Meester.

Volume 192,
2023,
106916,
ISSN 0921-3449,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.106916