Plastic sorting at recycling centres

Abstract

The aim of this guide is to be a decision support tool for the management of the recycling centres with the purpose of collecting plastic of better qualities and in greater quantities. The collection at recycling centres will often be part of a larger system for collection of waste plastic, e.g. often supplementing kerbside collection of plastic materials. The overall ambition is that most of the recyclable plastics are sorted out for recycling. The guide addresses both larger, advanced recycling centres amd smaller recycling centres. The guide is financed by the Nordic Waste Group under the Nordic Council of Ministers, acknowledging that the present situation in the Nordic countries is quite different with respect to how the collection of plastic waste is organised. It is based on the collection of information and practical experience through interviews with a number of operators within the value chain related to collection, sorting and recycling of plastic from recycling centres in the Nordic countries supplemented with sorting trials. The guide was compiled as part of the Nordic Council of Ministers green growth initiative, The Nordic Region-leading in green growth. It defines eight priorities, aimed at greening the Nordic economies, one of which is to develop innovative technologies and methods for waste treatment. More information about the initiative can be found at www.norden.org/greengrowth and in the Nordic Council of Ministers web magazine, Green Growth the Nordic Way, www.nordicway.org