A historical-technical analysis of packaging waste flows in Vienna

Abstract

Urban waste management plays an important role in providing secondary raw materials for packaging waste recycling. To assess measures for this provision, material flows of packaging waste for 2006–2020 in Vienna were modeled and evaluated by the separate collection rate and sorting rate. Results showed increasing separate collection rates for the years 2006-2020 for plastic bottles (20%-35%), aluminum beverage packaging (10%-22%), and beverage cartons (10%-18%) achieved by commingled collection and more collection points. Values for other aluminum (6%-5%) and ferrous metal packaging (18%-16%), however, decreased. Glass packaging increased slightly (53%-55%) and paper packaging remained constant (56%). The sorting rate of metal packaging increased significantly due to bottom ash sorting. To increase the provision of secondary raw materials, better communication with consumers and the improvement of technical sorting of mixed waste and bottom ash should be implemented. Door-to-door collection of beverage cartons, metals, and plastics should be carefully tested and evaluated before implementation.