Plastic Waste Recovery in Spain

Transcription

1 Plastic Waste Recovery in Spain Overview of the Market and Applied Technologies Beatriz Ferreira Pozo, César Aliaga Baquero, Juan Luis Martí Arbona and Mercedes Hortal Ramos 1. Introduction Market according industrial sectors Packaging Building and Construction Automotive Agriculture Electrical and electronic Collection systems of plastic waste in Spain Recovery alternatives for plastic waste Mechanical recycling Energy recovery Conclusions References Introduction Plastic consumption in the different Spanish industrial sectors was 2,840,000 tonnes in 2010 as observed in the next figure [1]. Others % Packaging % Agriculture 7.15 % Building and Construction % Automotive 8.73 % Electrical and Electronic 6.90 % Figure 1: Plastics consumption in Spain distributed by industrial sector (Year 2010) 183

2 B. Ferreira Pozo, C. Aliaga Baquero, J. L. Martí Arbona, M. Hortal Ramos This consumption generated approximately 2,206,000 tonnes of plastic waste in About 23 % of this waste was recycled and 17 % energy recovered, being landfilled about 60 % [2]. It can be observed, when analysing the distribution of recycled plastics, that low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene () are the most recycled polymers. Both plastics represent together 50,44 % of plastic recycling (excluding recycled materials coming from scraps and imports), followed by the Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), which represents 23,42 %, as shown below [3]. PA ABS 1.37 % 0.70 % Others 1.08 % Plastic Mix % % PET % PP 5.70 % LDP % Figure 2: EPS 0.21 % PS 2.58 % 3.18 % Recycled material distribution by polymers (excluding scraps and imports) (Year 2010) Energy recovery, especially through incineration, is the most widely used alternative to take advantage of the energy content of plastic waste. Additionally, other strategies such as the elaboration of alternative and complementary fuels for cement kilns are increasingly important. Finally, landfilling is still the most common end-of-life option. This situation implies to bury valuable resources. 2. Market according industrial sectors Existing markets for plastics in Spain are subsequently analysed. Both the consumption and the recovery strategies applied to the waste generated in each of the main industrial sectors are also commented Packaging Packaging (domestic and industrial) is the most representative application for plastics. The consumption in 2010 was 1,397,689 tonnes, which represents % of the total plastic consumption as shown before [1]. was the polymer most used in 2010 for packaging applications, which together with the LDPE, represents % of the total consumption (figure below). PET is also one of 184

3 the most relevant polymers used in this sector with the % of the consumption. The rest of the polymers used in this sector are not significant, except Polypropilene (PP), which ranks fourth with % of the market share. Thus, it can be considered that Polyolefins (, LDPE and PP) and PET are the most widely used polymers in this industrial sector, representing a share of almost 90 % of the total consumption [4]. EPS 1.79 % 2.16 % PS 5.32 % Others (PA, ABS, SAN) 1.25 % % PP % LDPE % PET % Figure 3: Polymers used in the Packaging sector (Year 2010) Because of the short life cycle of packaging, usually less than one year, it can be assumed a 1 to 1 relation between the annual consumption and the amount of waste generated. Therefore, it can be considered that 1,397,689 tonnes of plastic waste were generated during 2010 in this sector. According to Cicloplast and ANARPLA (National Association of Plastic Recyclers), 713,525 tonnes of plastic waste coming from the packaging sector were recovered in ,525 tonnes were recycled and 306,000 tonnes were energy recovered. The remaining 684,164 tonnes were landfilled as shown in the figure below [4]. Landfill 49 % total: 1,397,689 tonnes Recycling 29 % Energy recovery 22 % Figure 4: Plastic packaging waste management The European Directive of Packaging and Packaging Waste DC 2004/12/CE established a recycling target of 22.5 % for plastic packaging. This target was reached in Spain in Moreover, this rate is progressively increasing (29.16 % in 2010) as shown below [4]. 185

4 B. Ferreira Pozo, C. Aliaga Baquero, J. L. Martí Arbona, M. Hortal Ramos recycling rate % real progress legal obligation Figure 5: Recycling progress of plastic packaging in Sp 2.2. Building and Construction Building & Construction was the second Spanish industrial sector consuming the highest amount of plastic in 2010, which represented 11.3 % of the total consumption, i.e. 321,018 tonnes, as shown before [1]. Unlike packaging sector, the consumption of polyolefins in this industrial sector is not significant, being Polyvinyl chloride () the mostly polymer consumed in 2010, with %. This polymer was used for different applications: pipes, blinds, profiles, fittings, etc. The second mostly used typology of plastics in this sector is the group of engineering polymers, such as polyamides (PA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), etc, with represents % of the total consumption. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polystyrene (PS) are the third and fourth mostly used polymers, with rates around 6 % [5]. Others (PA, ABS, SAN) % EPS 6.29 % 3.78 % LDPE 4.67 % PP 2.24 % PS 6.26 % Figure 6: % Polymers used in the building and construction sector (Year 2010) The average relation between consumption and waste generation in this industrial sector is estimated around %. That means that the 321,018 tonnes of plastic consumed in construction in 2010 generated 45,279 tonnes of plastic waste. This estimation is made considering as waste generated those fractions coming from the building maintenance and the scraps generated during construction. Moreover, construction waste generated during repairs (pipelines scraps, blinds, profiles or isolation) is also considered. 186

5 Only about % of this construction waste, 12,452 tonnes, was recycled. Nevertheless, this rate also considers those components coming from other industrial postconsumption activities. No specific treatment is applied to the remaining waste generated, being landfilled [5]. Demolition waste is not considered so far, because of the existing difficulty for carry out the collection and separation of plastics from other materials. total: 45,279 tonnes Recycling 28 % Landfill 72 % Figure 7: Construction plastic waste management (Year 2010) 2.3. Automotive Automotive sector accounted for 8.73 % of the total consumption of plastics in 2010, which corresponded to 247,818 tonnes [1]. Mostly consumed polymers in this industrial sector in 2010 were engineering plastics such as PA, ABS, SAN. 32,192 tonnes of these plastics were consumed. They were used for interior pieces, coating, moulding pieces, etc. On the other hand 90,542 tonnes of PP, used for the production of bumpers and batteries casings, were consumed. Finally, the consumption of, used for the production of fuel tanks, and, used for different car pieces, was 13,570 and 11,513 tonnes respectively in 2010 [6] % PP % 4.65 % Others (PA, ABS, SAN) % Figure 8: Polymers used in the automotive sector (Year 2010) 187

6 B. Ferreira Pozo, C. Aliaga Baquero, J. L. Martí Arbona, M. Hortal Ramos The consumption of 247,818 tonnes of plastics in 2010 generated 114,608 tonnes of plastic waste by considering an average relation between consumption and waste generation of around % for this industrial sector. The basic indicator for the waste generation in this industrial sector is the scrapyard of end-of-life vehicles. Only 9,509 tonnes of this waste (3.84 %) were recycled, remaining 105,099 tonnes without any recovery treatment [6]. total: 114,608 tonnes Recycling 8 % Figure 9: Landfill 92 % Automotive plastic waste management (Year 2010) 2.4. Agriculture The consumption of plastics in agriculture was 203,017 tonnes in 2010, which represented 7.15 % of the global consumption [1]. The polymer mostly used in this industrial sector is LDPE, since it is used for the production of films, tubes and irrigation tapes; 89,832 tonnes were consumed in 2010, which represented %. and followed with a consumption of 57,993 (28.57 %) and 31,027 tonnes (15.28 %) respectively. The remaining polymers are not relevant, as shown in the following diagram [7]. PS % 0.37 % Others (PA, ABS, SAN) 7.15 % PP 4.37 % % LDPE % Figure 10: Polymers used in agriculture (Year 2010) Considering a lifespan between 2 and 4 years for the plastics used in this sector, an average relation between consumption and waste generation around 84.6 % is defined. That means that a generation of 171,830 tonnes of plastic waste in 2010 is assumed for this industrial sector. Part of this waste, like films coming from greenhouses and some of the mulching 188

7 films, can be recycled. Nevertheless, there is another large amount of mulching films, which are highly contaminated with land (up to 70 %), which cannot be recycled and consequently are deposited in landfill. The use of this plastic waste as alternative fuel in industries is another recovery option to be considered [7]. total: 171,830 tonnes Recycling 28 % Figure 11: Landfill 72 % Agriculture plastic waste management (Year 2010) 2.5. Electrical and electronic Plastics consumed in the electrical and electronic industrial sector in 2010 only represent 6.9 % of the total consumption [1], reaching 196,036 tonnes. Polymers mostly consumed in 2010 were engineering plastics such as PA, ABS, SAN, etc, which are used for the production of small appliances, cables, electrical equipment, etc. LDPE for cables, for cables and tubes, for cables, PP for small appliances, and PS for radios, TVs and small appliances, computer, refrigerators, etc are other polymers used in this sector [8] % LDPE 9.40 % PP 5.86 % % PS 9.84 % Others (PA, ABS, SAN) % Figure 12: Polymers used in Electrical and Electronic sector (Year 2010) The average relation between plastic consumption and waste generated is around 50 %. Therefore, 94,581 tonnes of plastic waste were generated in 2010, being recycled only 6,020 tonnes, as shown in the next figure [8]. 189

8 B. Ferreira Pozo, C. Aliaga Baquero, J. L. Martí Arbona, M. Hortal Ramos total: 94,851 tonnes Recycling 6 % Landfill 94 % Figure 13: Electrical and Electronic plastic waste management (Year 2010) 3. Collection systems of plastic waste in Spain The recovery process starts with collection. This process presents higher or lower difficulty depending on the waste origin (domestic or industrial). The capability to separate the waste by fractions highly depends on the collection procedure as well as on the treatment processes subsequently implemented. These stages highly impact on the quality and homogeneity of the fractions as well as in the capability to be subsequently recovered. Waste Framework Directive DC 2008/98/EC states a waste hierarchy which establishes mechanical recycling as the recovery process to be firstly implemented followed by energy recovery and landfilling, once reduction and reuse efforts have been done. Additionally, other Directives establish other management requirements as well as objectives for the recovery of plastic waste generated in different industrial sectors. Integrated management systems have been established in Spain to boost the adequate management of waste in order to guarantee the fulfilment of these targets. Most important Spanish waste management systems are listed below: ECOEMBES: Packaging waste ECOLEC: Large and small household appliances (white line) ECOTIC: Electronic devices (brown line) AMBILAMP: Lighting equipment SIGRAUTO: End of life vehicles Packaging is the most representative plastic waste fraction as commented before. ECO- EMBES coordinates in Spain the selective collection of domestic packaging waste. Once collected, the packaging waste fraction is transported to the 95 packaging plants for the separation of the different streams with potential to be recovered. Additionally, 52 municipal solid waste treatment plants are also designed for the separation of the packaging waste fractions with high added value, which are subsequently recovered. Currently, both the packaging plants and the municipal solid waste separation plants are using different technologies able to optimize the recovery of plastic packaging. Nevertheless, some of these plants are still being operated ly. Typical flowcharts of both typologies of plants are subsequently shown [9]. 190

9 tank bridge crane feeding of the lines trommel bulky waste (> 400 mm) rejects Packaging Sorting plant rest (< 400 mm) bag opening and classification by size cardboard and films scrap, weee and hazardous waste fine fraction < 80 mm medium fraction mm thick fraction > 300 mm organic matter light fraction trommel heavy fraction paper cardboard plastics screening composting and biometanization > 15 mm pressing LDPE or films cover materials < 15 mm paper cardboard bricks plastics suction optical separation PET bricks mix suction rest plastic films eddy current aluminium rest Municipal Solid Waste Separation plant tank bag opening bulky waste fine fraction < 70 mm others ballistic medium fraction mm thick fraction > 750 mm rest briks paper and cardboard pressing packaging pressing suction lightweight plastic rest optical separation PP, PS and plastic PET optical separation non plastic eddy current briks of LDPE pressing of LDPE of LDPE of LDPE pressing pressing pressing rest briks and aluminium briks aluminium Figure 14: Flowchart of a packaging plant (above) and a municipal solid waste separation plant in Spain (below) 191

10 B. Ferreira Pozo, C. Aliaga Baquero, J. L. Martí Arbona, M. Hortal Ramos Industrial packaging waste is collected by authorized waste management companies. Moreover, waste fractions potentially recoverable are directly delivered to recycling companies. 4. Recovery alternatives for plastic waste Only 40 % of plastic waste recovered is recovered in Spain, being 60 % of these waste fractions landfilled [10]. Switzerland Germany Austria Sweden Denmark Belgium Luxembourg Netherlands Norway France Italy Slovakia Czech Republic Finland Spain Hungary Estonia Portugal Ireland UK Slovenia Poland Romania Latvia Lithuania Greece Bulgaria Cyprus Malta Rate % Recycling Rate Energy Recovery Rate Figure 15: Recycling and valorization rates by country Recovery alternatives are subsequently commented in detail Mechanical recycling Only 515,674 tonnes of plastic waste, from the 2,206,000 tonnes generated in Spain during 2010, were mechanically recycled. The different origins of these recycled fractions are shown in the Figure 16 [3]. This process was carried out by the 107 plastic recycling companies existing in Spain. These companies are not large. Nevertheless, they have a high technologic level since Research and Development is a key factor for the development of the sector. The production of recycled material in the different Spanish regions is shown in Figure 17 [11]. According to Cicloplast, % of the recycled material was commercialized in the same Spanish region of production, % in the rest of Spain, 6.20 % in the European Union and 3.06 % in the rest of the countries [1]. Applications in which recycled plastic was used during 2010 are shown in the Figure 18 [1]. 192

11 Post-Consumption Electrical and Electronic 1.17 % Post-Consumption Automotive 1.84 % Post-Consumption Building and Construction 0.50 % % Post-Consumption Agriculture 9.37 % Post-Consumption Leisure, Sports 0.58 % Other Industrial Post-Consumption 7.50 % Post-Consumption Packaging % Figure 16: Distribution of recycling material obtained by origin of plastic waste (year 2010) Figure 17: Distribution of the production of recycled material in Spain (year 2010) Household items 1.91 % Pipelines % Bottles and barrels 3.54 % Clothes hangers, Footwear or outdoor furniture % Foils and other bags % Figure 18: Distribution of the recycled material production in Spain (year 2010) Industrial pieces % 193

12 B. Ferreira Pozo, C. Aliaga Baquero, J. L. Martí Arbona, M. Hortal Ramos Average annual growth rate of plastic recycling in Spain was 13 % until A reduction of plastic recycling was observed in 2008 and 2009, growing again the in 2010 as shown in the next figure [3]. TM 550, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , % 500, , , , Figure 19: Evolution of plastic recycling in the different sectors (imports and clean scrap are excluded) 4.2. Energy recovery There are 10 incinerators with energy recovery focussed on the treatment of municipal Solid Waste (MSW). 412,000 tonnes of plastic waste produced in Spain were treated in these plants in 2010 [12]. These plants are located in the different Spanish regions although the presence in Catalonia is higher. Sogama (Cerceda) Tirmadrid (Madrid) Meruelo (Cantabria) Zabalgarbi (Bilbao) Sirusa (Tarragona) Trargisa (Girona) TRM (Mataró) Tersa (Barcelona) Tirme (Palma de Mallorca) Figure 20: Remesa (Melilla) km Incinerators with energy recovery in Spain The high energetic content of plastic waste makes it an interesting alternative fuel for industries with high energetic demands such as cement plants, power plants, lime industries etc. Currently, only cement plants are starting to use plastic waste instead of conventional fuels. Moreover, the substitution percentages are still low. 194

13 5. Conclusions 2,840,000 tonnes of plastics were consumed in Spain during 2010, generating 2,206,000 tonnes of plastic waste. Collection and separation of plastic waste are key processes for the obtaining of high quality and recoverable waste streams. These activities are organized through integrated management systems which work for the achievement of the recovery objectives established in the different European Directives. Around 40 % of the plastic waste generated in Spain was recovered in 2010 (23 % mechanically recycled and 17 % energy recovered). The percentages of plastic recycling achieved in 2010 in the different Spanish industrial sectors were: packaging sector (29,16 %), building & construction (5,7 %), automotive (8,30 %), agriculture (28,13 %), electrical and electronic (6,37 %) and other sectors (10,90 %). Increasing rates of plastic recycling has been observed in recent years. Nevertheless, 60 % of plastic waste is currently landfilled. Therefore, energy recovery strategies should be implemented in the case of materials presenting limitations to be recycled and high energetic contents. In fact, the use of alternative fuels derived from plastic waste is progressively growing, although they are nowadays only used in cement plants. Therefore, significant improvements have being made in recent years in the area of waste management. Nevertheless, these working lines should follow in order to achieve the total recovery of the plastic waste generated in Spain. 6. References [1] Estadísticas de Consumo, Residuos, Reciclado y Recuperación Energética de los Plásticos. España Cicloplast, 2011 [2] Recuperación energética en España-Año Boletín informativo de ANARPLA Nº 2012/5/111, págs.5-7. ANARPLA, 2012 [3] El reciclado de plásticos en España-Año Boletín informativo de ANARPLA Nº 2011/11/105, págs ANARPLA, 2011 [4] Sector de envase y embalaje en España-Año Boletín informativo de ANARPLA Nº 2011/12/106, págs.7-9. ANARPLA, 2011 [5] Sector Construcción en España-Año Boletín informativo de ANARPLA Nº 2012/3/109, págs.5-7. ANARPLA, 2012 [6] Sector Automoción en España-Año Boletín informativo de ANARPLA Nº 2012/2/108, págs.7-9. ANARPLA, 2012 [7] Sector Agricultura en España-Año Boletín informativo de ANARPLA Nº 2012/4/110, págs.5-7. ANARPLA, 2012 [8] Sector electricidad, electrónica y electrodomésticos en España-Año Boletín informativo de ANARPLA Nº 2012/1/107, págs.7-9. ANARPLA, 2012 [9] Study of the recovery systems of domestic plastic packaging waste in Spain. ITENE, 2010 [10] Plastics the Facts An analysis of European plastics production, demand and recovery for PlasticsEurope, [11] El reciclado de plásticos en España-Año Boletín informativo de ANARPLA Nº 2011/10/104, pág.10. ANARPLA, 2011 [12] Recuperación energética en España-Año Boletín informativo de ANARPLA Nº 2012/5/111, págs.5-7. ANARPLA,