This free Zoom webinar is presented by Irdanto Lase from, Sustainability Researcher at the University of Ghent. It is part of a webinar series organised by the Resources, Conservation & Recycling scientific journal.

The global plastic recycling rate is low, urging developments in recycling technology and strategies to increase circularity. Taking plastic waste treatment in Europe as a case study, this research develops a material flow analysis (MFA) model to assess potential improvements in plastic waste management systems, including better collection rate, mechanical sorting, and recycling using mechanical, chemical, and solvent-based recycling techniques. Four circularity indicators are applied to compare MFA results: end-of-life recycling rate (EoL-RR), plastic-to-plastic rate, plastic-to-chemicals rate, and plastic-to-fuel rate. The findings of this study show quantitatively i) the contribution of new emerging plastic recycling technologies (chemical and solvent-based recycling) towards a circular economy for plastic, ii) the estimated production of secondary resources from plastic recycling, including base chemicals and fuel, and iii) potential recycled content availability to reach recycling targets. This research can be used to formulate new circular economy strategies and monitoring of recycling target attainment.

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