WASTE PLASTICS RECYCLING A GOOD PRACTICES GUIDE

BY AND FOR LOCAL & REGIONAL AUTHORITIES

Vinyl 2010
Vinyl 2010 The Voluntary Commitment of the PVC industry is a ten year voluntary commitment.
It includes a strict implementation monitoring process through certified annual reports.
A formal legal entity called Vinyl 2010 was created, gathering the whole PVC industry chain and
open to a partnership with all interested parties. The PVC industry will provide a financial support
scheme, in particular for new technologies and recycling schemes, allowing up to 250 million euro
of financial contribution over the 10 year programme.
Vinyl 2010 includes the following key actions and commitments:
compliance to ECVM Charters regarding PVC production emission standards
a plan for full replacement of lead stabilisers by 2015, in addition to the replacement of
cadmium stabilisers (achieved in March 2001)
the recycling in 2010 of 200,000 tons of post-consumer PVC waste
the recycling of 50 per cent of the collectable available PVC waste for windows profiles,
pipes, fittings and roofing membranes in 2005, and flooring in 2008
a research and development programme on new recycling and recovery technologies,
including feedstock recycling and solvent-based technology
the implementation of a social charter signed with the European Mine, Chemical and
Energy Workers Federation (EMCEF) to develop social dialogue, training, health, safety and
environmental standards, including transfer to EU accession countries
a partnership with local authorities within the ACRR for the promotion of best-practices
and pilot recycling schemes at local level.
For more information, see Vinyl2010s website at: www.vinyl2010.org

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WASTE PLASTICS RECYCLING A GOOD PRACTICES GUIDE

BY AND FOR LOCAL & REGIONAL AUTHORITIES

ANNEX 1
A review of life cycle analysis (LCA) studies on plastic
recycling
The different studies on the LCA of waste plastics show a range of diverging results. However, from
an environmental point of view, most of the studies conclude that the mechanical recycling of
waste plastics is often the best solution, providing that certain conditions are met in order to
achieve environmental sound recycling. This includes aspects such as the quality of goods that can
be manufactured from the recyclate. Under other conditions, the ecological advantage of mechanical
recycling is not as clear when compared, for example, with incineration with energy recovery.
Many LCA studies on plastics are oriented towards plastic packaging because of the introduction of
the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC) and also PVC, due to the attention this
polymer has commanded by the European Commission.
According to Europen60:
LCA is a decision supporting tool not a decision making tool. It should be used in conjunction with
other tools to assist in identifying areas of potential ecological improvement.
The LCA studies a particular case under particular conditions and its conclusion cannot be generalised.
A case-by-case approach is necessary because the:
regional or local conditions to a large extent determine which of the options (reuse, recycling, or
recovery) is preferable from the point of view of a high level of environmental protection.
LCAs do not determine usually clearly winners and losers.

General LCA on waste plastics treatment

The ko-Institut61 reviewed ten of the most important LCA studies on plastic recycling, the references
to which are given at the end of this annex. This study confirmed, that for the waste plastics, the
same waste hierarchy exists as that established for the waste management at the EU level:
1. Mechanical and monomer recycling
2. Feedstock recycling
3. Incineration with energy recovery
4. Landfill
A number of factors can produce a change in this hierarchy, including the production of low quality
goods by some mechanical recycling processes and where incineration (with energy recovery)
systems replace existing heavily polluting energy sources, such as coal. The study also notes that,
usually:
LCA does not cover local environmental impacts and those caused by toxic substances.

60- Use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a Policy Tool in the Field of Sustainable Packaging Waste Management A EUROPEN Discussion Paper
September 1999. For general information on LCA, see also the Internet site: http://ewindows.eu.org/ManagementConcepts/LCA
61- Assessment of Plastic Recovery Options - ko-Institut e.V. Dr. Ing. Volrad Wollny March 2000

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