Did you know…
Why is Waste-to-Energy complementary to recycling? Paper however poses a challenge, because even with the best coverage and efforts, paper recyclers cannot recycle more than 80% of the paper they market for hygiene or technical reasons.
Recyclable paper
Of the materials we discard every day, a large portion is packaging, which is a valuable resource. Other wastes, like food waste, also have value for recycling industries. As a rule of thumb, most of the wastes made of glass or metals are already recycled to a large extent in the fore-running EU Recycling countries. Other materials, such as bio-waste, plastic and paper, are more challenging.
In terms of plastics, the myriad applications of this material imply that while widespread plastic packaging, such as bottles, constitutes a high quality recycling feedstock, many other plastic wastes cannot undergo mechanical recycling. For all these materials that the recyclers deem unsuitable for recycling, Wasteto-Energy is recognised by the recyclers themselves as a complementary solution. Minimising landfilling, increasing recycling and enabling energy recovery to handle the residual waste makes the most sense.
Bio-waste, such as food waste, which should be prevented in the first place, can usually be digested and/or composted and, if of sufficient quality, makes a great fertiliser along with a source of bioenergy.
Recyclable plastic
Activity Report 2013 | ESWET 19