In an article published on February 13, 2018, the industry association Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) informed that the capacity for recycling flexible polyethylene (PE) in Europe has increased over the past few years. Since 2015, the PE recycling capacity has grown approximately from 1.5 mio metric tons per year to 2.3 mio metric tons per year. The recycling rate is estimated at about 31%. The sources of flexible PE plastics waste are as follows: 43% commercial and retailer waste, 23% production waste, 17% agricultural waste, and 13% household packaging waste.
Ton Emans, president of PRE and chairman of the PE Working Group stated: “The Plastics Strategy of the Commission and the Chinese import ban have already a positive impact as we see an acceleration of new projects across Europe.” He added that ”much effort is still needed in terms of Design for Recycling” because “multilayers materials remain unrecyclable and thus there is a need to move to monomaterial alternatives which can be recycled.”
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PRE (February 13, 2018). “Plastics recycling grows in Europe.”
Plastics News Europe (February 14, 2018). “European recycling capacity expands.“
