Sorting Of Packaging Waste Research Articles

Chemical Recycling of Mixed Polyolefin Post-Consumer Plastic Waste Sorting Residues (MPO323)-Auto-Catalytic Reforming and Decontamination with Pyrolysis Char as an Active Material.

Mixed plastic packaging waste sorting residue (MPO323) was treated by thermal pyrolysis to utilize pyrolysis oil and char. The pyrolysis oil was found to contain aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. The chlorine and bromine contents were as high as 40,000 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Additionally, other elements like sulfur, phosphorous, iron, aluminum, and lead were detected, which can be interpreted as impurities relating to the utilization of oils for chemical recycling. The pyrolysis char showed high contents of potentially active species like silicon, calcium, aluminum, iron, and others. To enhance the content of aromatic hydrocarbons and to reduce the level of contaminants, pyrolysis oil was reformed with the corresponding pyrolysis char to act as an active material in a fixed bed. The temperature of the reactor and the flow rate of the pyrolysis oil feed were varied to gain insights on the cracking and reforming reactions, as well as on performance with regard to decontamination.

Deep learning implementation using convolutional neural network in inorganic packaging waste sorting

Municipal solid waste is a significant issue that causes environmental contamination. One of the most prevalent wastes that is difficult to decompose is waste from inorganic packaging. Inorganic packaging waste management can be done by sorting waste as the first step before going through subsequent processing. However, waste sorting is currently still difficult to do by human power in waste management facilities, so it is necessary to design a system that can assist the waste sorting process. This research aims to develop a model that can classify inorganic packaging at waste processing sites. To develop the model, we used five pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures, namely Xception, Inception V3, ResNet-50, Resnet-50 V2, and DenseNet-201. Then, the best architecture based on some metric performances will be tuned. The result displayed that the CNN model with Densenet 201 architecture, accompanied by tuning, achieved the best performance to classify the waste. The accuracy for the validation dataset is 95.31 %, the accuracy for the testing dataset is 95.6 %, precision is 0.96, recall is 0.96, and the F1-score is 0.96. The results of those performance metrics show that the model can predict the image of inorganic packaging waste well for further application to an automated waste sorting system.

Developing a prediction model in a lightweight packaging waste sorting plant using sensor-based sorting data combined with data of external near-infrared and LiDAR sensors.

Sensor-based material flow monitoring allows for continuously high output qualities, through quality management and process control. The implementation in the waste management sector, however, is inhibited by the heterogeneity of waste and throughput fluctuations. In this study, challenges and possibilities of using different types of sensors in a lightweight packaging waste sorting plant are investigated. Three external sensors have been mounted on different positions in an Austrian sorting plant: one Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor for monitoring the volume flow and two near-infrared (NIR) sensors for measuring the pixel-based material composition and occupation density. Additionally, the data of an existing sensor-based sorter (SBS) were evaluated. To predict the newly introduced parameter material-specific occupation density (MSOD) of multi-coloured polyethylene terephthalate (PET) preconcentrate, different machine learning models were evaluated. The results indicate that using SBS data for both monitoring of throughput fluctuations caused by different bag opener settings as well as monitoring the material composition is feasible, if the pre-set teach-in is suitable. The ridge regression model based on SBS was comparable (RMSE = 3.59 px%, R² = 0.57) to the one based on NIR and LiDAR (RMSE = 3.1 px%, R² = 0.68). The demonstrated feasibility of the implementation at plant scale highlights the opportunities of sensor-based material flow monitoring for the waste management sector and paves the way towards a more circular plastics economy.

Sorting of Packaging Waste: a Framework to link Gripper Technologies and Waste Classes.

As sustainable manufacturing gains prominence, the importance of effective sorting of waste streams emerges. This study delves into robotic gripper selection, specifically for packaging waste handling and sorting. The paper starts with a 2-step approach to select a set of relevant robotic grippers that can handle the specific picking challenges of packaging waste. Specifically for a concrete multi-robot multi-gripper packaging waste sorting use case, a literature review is performed to identify the available gripper techniques and an initial gripper selection is made based on gripper integration requirements such as required robot degrees of freedom, safety and technology readiness level (TRL). Secondly, this work proposes a classification method for waste objects, considering, among others, their geometry, material, and surface structure. Subsequently, a framework for automated gripper allocation to waste objects is presented linking the selected gripper technologies and waste classes.

Near-infrared-based quality control of plastic pre-concentrates in lightweight-packaging waste sorting plants

Today's post-consumer plastic recycling is limited by labor-intensive manual quality control (MQC) procedures, resulting in largely unknown pre-concentrate purities. Sensor-based quality control (SBQC) could enable an automated inline quality monitoring and thus contribute to a more transparent and enhanced plastic recycling. Therefore, we investigated the technical feasibility of near-infrared-based SBQC for plastic pre-concentrates in a lightweight packaging waste sorting plant. The developed SBQC method outperformed MQC methods by reducing measurement uncertainties from between ±0.8 wt% and ±6.7 wt% (MQC) to ±0.31 wt% (SBQC) for bale-specific purities at monolayered material flow presentations. In addition, we show that SBQC may even be possible at multilayered material flow presentations, although further research is needed to address identified segregation effects. The demonstrated technical feasibility of SBQC at plant scale represents a major breakthrough as it opens new opportunities in plastic recycling, such as adaptive pricing models and intelligent process control in sorting plants.

Design-Based Approach to Support Sorting Behavior of Food Packaging

It is widely acknowledged that environmental impacts from packaging waste depend on how consumers sort this waste fraction. In this research, “design for sustainable behavior” (DfSB) strategies are used to improve a cream packaging design that can support proper sorting of packaging waste as a sustainable behavior. The application of three DfSB strategies—“match”, “steer”, and “force”—was examined through circular interviews and practical experience with two groups of participants in Karlskrona, Sweden. Prototyping was used to provide a more realistic experiment and enhance communication during the interviews. The results show that consumer-packaging interaction during the usage phase is important to enhance proper sorting behavior. The results also show the potential of a user-centered design-based approach to study consumer-packaging interaction and to understand the challenges faced by users when sorting packaging waste. It also shows the possibility of packaging design to script consumer behavior and reveals details that are important when designing packaging that was not known. In this vein, packaging form, color, and haptic attributes are the most influential design attributes that can support packaging functionalities and script consumer sorting behavior.

Recycling, Norms, and Convenience: A Bivariate Probit Analysis of Household Data From a Swedish City

The purpose of this article is to investigate the role of norms and convenience for households' packaging waste sorting activities. The theoretical point of departure is a simple economic model that integrates norm-motivated behavior into neoclassical utility theory by assuming that the individual has a preference for maintaining a self-image as a morally responsible (norm-compliant) person. The empirical analysis rests on survey responses from 398 households in the city of Eskilstuna, Sweden. Self-reported information on recycling contributions and personal norms is analyzed in a bivariate probit model, which estimates the probability of pursuing high-performing recycling efforts as an endogenously determined decisions to the activation of a personal norm for waste sorting. The results suggest that norm activation is an important driver for households' recycling contributions, as is convenience in the form of access to property-close collection schemes. Personal norms are in turn primarily activated by the presence of social, legal, and descriptive norms. One important implication is that policy needs to build on well-aligned policy instrument mixes that combine references to the moral significance of households' recycling contributions with various infrastructural measures that facilitate such contributions.

EVSEL ATIKLARIN DERİN ÖĞRENME TEKNİKLERİ İLE AYRIŞTIRILMASI

Thanks to the rapid development of deep learning technology, smart systems used in almost every part of our daily life are being developed. Developed applications not only made our lives easier, but also contributed positively to nature. Traditional waste separation methods fall short in terms of efficiency and accuracy. In addition to its high cost, it can also cause problems in terms of environmental risks. In recent years, artificial intelligence, machine learning and the deep learning techniques it brings have become a popular method for solving complex problems such as organic, household and packaging waste sorting. In this study, the problem of separation of domestic wastes, which is of great importance in terms of both human and living life and the protection of nature, is discussed. In the artificial intelligence cluster; Classification performances were compared by using popular conventional neural network (CNN) based ResNet-50, DenseNet-121, Inception-V3, VGG16 architectures to detect and sort household waste with deep learning, a sub-branch of machine learning.

Oil Production by Pyrolysis of Real Plastic Waste.

The aim of this paper is for the production of oils processed in refineries to come from the pyrolysis of real waste from the high plastic content rejected by the recycling industry of the Basque Country (Spain). Concretely, the rejected waste streams were collected from (1) a light packaging waste sorting plant, (2) the paper recycling industry, and (3) a waste treatment plant of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The influence of pre-treatments (mechanical separation operations) and temperature on the yield and quality of the liquid fraction were evaluated. In order to study the pre-treatment effect, the samples were pyrolyzed at 460 °C for 1 h. As pre-treatments concentrate on the suitable fraction for pyrolysis and reduce the undesirable materials (metals, PVC, PET, inorganics, cellulosic materials), they improve the yield to liquid products and considerably reduce the halogen content. The sample with the highest polyolefin content achieved the highest liquid yield (70.6 wt.% at 460 °C) and the lowest chlorine content (160 ppm) among the investigated samples and, therefore, was the most suitable liquid to use as refinery feedstock. The effect of temperature on the pyrolysis of this sample was studied in the range of 430–490 °C. As the temperature increased the liquid yield increased and solid yield decreased, indicating that the conversion was maximized. At 490 °C, the pyrolysis oil with the highest calorific value (44.3 MJ kg−1) and paraffinic content (65% area), the lowest chlorine content (128 ppm) and more than 50 wt.% of diesel was obtained.

Development and application of a predictive modelling approach for household packaging waste flows in sorting facilities

Household packaging waste sorting facilities consist of complex networks of processes to separate diverse waste streams. These facilities are a key first step to re-enter materials into the recycling chain. However, so far there are no general methods to predict the performance of such sorting facilities, i.e. how efficiently the heterogeneous packaging waste is sorted into fractions with value for further recycling. In this paper, a model of the material flow in a sorting facility is presented, which allows changing the incoming waste composition, split factors on the sorting units as well as the setup of the sorting facility. The performance of the sorting facility is judged based on the purity of the output material (grade) and the recovery of the input material. A validation of the model was performed via a case study on Belgian post-consumer packaging waste with a selection of typical waste items that can be found in this stream. Moreover, the model was used to predict the possible sorting qualities of future Belgian post-consumer packaging waste after an extension of the allowed waste packaging items in the waste stream. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed on the split factors, which are a key data source in the model. Overall, the developed model is flexible and able to predict the performance of packaging waste sorting facilities as well as support waste management and design for recycling decisions, including future design of packaging, to ensure proper sorting and separation.

Inorganic fluorescent marker materials for identification of post-consumer plastic packaging

Current plastic packaging waste management practices in Europe, but also in other countries require improvement due to legal and societal requirements. To meet high recycling rates, significant changes among others in post-consumer packaging waste sorting become necessary. This waste stream is dominated by plastic packaging. Inorganic fluorescent tracer materials (oxide crystals doped with ytterbium Yb3+ sensitizer ions and either erbium (Er3+), holmium (Ho3+) or thulium (Tm3+) activator ions) enable a sorting criterion which is independent of the properties of the packaging materials. The authors propose to use up-conversion fluorescence as a unique mean for polymer marking and product identification. To this end, PE-HD film samples, with 10, 100 and 1000 ppm of marker concentration in different polymer matrix colours (semi-transparent, yellow, green, and black) were irradiated with 980 nm diode laser radiation, with an excitation intensity up to 10 W/cm2. The performance of three different marker types with their maximum emission in green, red, and NIR was measured and assessed both with and without polymer matrix. Moreover, PE-HD sample bottles with tracers were tested, and a tracer regime for specific code generation for improved polymer identification is proposed.

The Potential of Food Packaging Attributes to Influence Consumers’ Decisions to Sort Waste

Food packaging waste is a valuable resource for material recovery, if it is properly separated and sorted by consumers. The packaging itself may have the potential to assist consumer sorting by, for example, communicating a correct sorting practice. This is partly due to the fact that the sorting of packaging waste, which is a habitual behavior of consumers, can be perceived as being confusing and inconvenient. Consumers can, therefore, choose not to sort. It is argued that material recovery could be enhanced if packaging can afford easy and proper sorting and separation. To investigate the potential of packaging to support proper sorting, six types of yogurt and cream packaging were examined across 15 households in Karlskrona (a medium-sized Swedish city). The aim is to investigate the effect of selected packaging attributes on consumer decisions regarding waste sorting. The results reveal that some of the selected packaging waste is not properly separated and sorted. It is concluded that the design of food packaging based on user-centered needs could affect consumer decisions for the proper sorting of packaging waste, which enables improved material recovery. The design should focus especially on the package’s visual attributes, the material selection, and the package´s waste sorting related functions.

Behavioral spillovers from food-waste collection in Swedish municipalities

We estimate behavioral spillovers from environmental policy within the context of a natural experiment on food waste in Sweden. Exploiting the staggered implementation of food-waste collection across Swedish municipalities, we use a difference-in-difference design to measure the causal effect of introducing such collection on another pro-environmental behavior, namely the sorting of packaging waste. Results suggest a positive spillover effect on packaging waste which corresponds to 5–10% of the population average and rises gradually over time, possibly due to slow implementation of food-waste collection in many municipalities. These estimates are unconfounded with a number of shifts in the waste-related incentives facing households, e.g. introduction of curbside collection of packaging waste from single-family homes. Although we are unable to directly account for all such factors, indirect robustness tests provide no compelling evidence that estimated spillovers are spurious.

Analysis of Waste Sorting Population in Latvia by Using System Dynamics Modeling

Municipal waste can be sorted by using recycling waste container system, deposit system or other mechanisms. Three basic kinds of municipal waste – plastic, glass and paper/cardboard are collected in Latvia by using waste container system. The major part of it is utilized packaging – PET and glass bottles, cardboard boxes etc. It is necessary to ensure sorted material collection to provide recycling; however, the extent of sorting mostly depends on the willingness and possibilities of population to sort the waste. Therefore, willingness of population and possibilities of waste sorting, as well as the preconditions, which need to be fulfilled for motivating the non-sorting population to start sorting, are analyzed in the paper by using system dynamics modeling. System dynamics is a modeling methodology, which permits an analyst to represent graphically and mathematically the interactions governing the dynamic behavior of complex socio-economic systems. The purpose of a system dynamics intervention is to identify, how structure and decision policies generate system behavior identified as problematic, so that structural and policy oriented solutions can be identified and implemented. In this paper, system dynamics modeling is used to understand and reflect the existing situation of packaging waste sorting and its motivating factors in order to develop the projections till year 2030 under conditions of the existing policies, i.e. the reference system. Then, economical and political instruments, which make improvements comparing to the reference system and solve the problem related to low sorting efficiency of population in Latvia, are studied by using the model.

Economic-financial analysis of the Italian packaging waste management system from a local authority's perspective

Abstract One of the pillars of the European Union legislation on packaging waste is the principle that each economic producer is fully responsible for the fate of the packaging materials he has introduced in the market (Extended Producer Responsibility - EPR). A system of financial transfers is then implemented between the industry and the local authorities which are ultimately responsible for the separated collection of packaging waste and its recovery. The paper reports an economic-financial analysis of the packaging waste management system in Italy from the perspective of the local authorities, building up from an extensive, rich and unique data collection for the Italian context. Both costs for separate collection and sorting and benefits arising from the financial transfers were considered. The cost savings that waste local authorities attain by diverting packaging waste from the residual waste collection services and disposal were also included. The results showed that the local authority benefits an average of 250 € per tonne of packaging waste separately collected. In contrast, if the savings associated with the diversion of waste are not considered (financial perspective), the benefits are significantly reduced to 58 € per tonne. As the services of separate collection and sorting of packaging waste represent 121 € per tonne collected, costs are fully covered only when considering an economic perspective. Conversely, this does not happen if the cost savings due to avoided disposal are not taken into account. The EPR principle, one of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive's cornerstones, is thus not being fulfilled, in a strictly financial perspective. Moreover, this means that if the EPR principle was to be strictly followed, the transfers to the local authorities should be increased. In any case, such transfers should be calculated based on the efficiency and peculiarities of each packaging waste system.

Economic viability of packaging waste recycling systems: A comparison between Belgium and Portugal

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive has had an undeniable impact on waste management throughout the European Union. Whereas recycling and recovery targets are the same, member states still enjoy a considerable degree of freedom with respect to the practical organization and management strategies adopted. Nevertheless, in all cases, the industry (which brings packaging material onto the market) should be responsible for the costs associated with packaging waste recycling/recovery (following the extended producer responsibility principle). The current paper compares and contrasts the institutional frameworks and financial costs and benefits of waste management operators for Belgium and Portugal. The unit costs of selective collection and sorting of packaging waste are provided for both countries. In Belgium, the costs of recycling seem to be fully supported by the industry (through Fost Plus, the national Green Dot agency). In Portugal the fairness of the recycling system depends on the perspective adopted (economic or strictly financial). Adopting a strictly financial perspective, it seems that Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV, the Portuguese Green Dot agency) should increase the transfers to local authorities. However, the conclusions differ for this country if the avoided costs with refuse collection and other treatment are taken into account.

Pyrolysis behavior of different type of materials contained in the rejects of packaging waste sorting plants

In this paper rejected streams coming from a waste packaging material recovery facility have been characterized and separated into families of products of similar nature in order to determine the influence of different types of ingredients in the products obtained in the pyrolysis process. The pyrolysis experiments have been carried out in a non-stirred batch 3.5dm3 reactor, swept with 1Lmin−1 N2, at 500°C for 30min. Pyrolysis liquids are composed of an organic phase and an aqueous phase. The aqueous phase is greater as higher is the cellulosic material content in the sample. The organic phase contains valuable chemicals as styrene, ethylbenzene and toluene, and has high heating value (HHV) (33–40MJkg−1). Therefore they could be used as alternative fuels for heat and power generation and as a source of valuable chemicals. Pyrolysis gases are mainly composed of hydrocarbons but contain high amounts of CO and CO2; their HHV is in the range of 18–46MJkg−1. The amount of COCO2 increases, and consequently HHV decreases as higher is the cellulosic content of the waste. Pyrolysis solids are mainly composed of inorganics and char formed in the process. The cellulosic materials lower the quality of the pyrolysis liquids and gases, and increase the production of char.

Economic cost recovery in the recycling of packaging waste: the case of Portugal

The recycling of packaging waste is an objective of the Community with clear targets set in the European law. The study of the institutional arrangements, recycling systems and of the costs that resulted from this environmental policy represents an ongoing effort. While each member state has currently its own packaging waste management system, there is still a lack of evidence regarding the actual costs of recycling and on how these costs have been distributed among stakeholders. This paper addresses the Portuguese framework and discusses the financial transfers undertaken by the entity that manages the Green Dot scheme. For this purpose, we use data from the entities in charge of selective collection and sorting of household packaging waste for the year 2010. We compare the financial transfers of the Green Dot company with the costs incurred by the local authorities (which are generally in charge of selective collection and sorting) and open a discussion on the extent to which the principles of the Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste are being fulfilled in practice. Currently, the Green Dot company is only bearing 77% of the financial costs of the recycling systems in operation in Portugal. The unit cost of the selective collection and sorting of packaging waste is estimated to be 204 €/ton collected.

The implementation of PAYT system under the condition of financial balance in France

Since 2005, France has been facing a reform of the financial regulation of the management of municipal solid waste, by tax or flat fees. Nevertheless, the application of unit pricing is limited to about 15 local authorities, but interest is expanding. The French examples confirm the efficiency of this PAYT system. The prevention and the sorting of packaging waste are increasing and the quantity of residual waste falling. But, we have highlighted the difficulty for the local authorities to balance their budgets during the years of PAYT system implementation. After a short review of the situation in France of the financing of waste services, and in particular of PAYT system, the paper presents, firstly the financial model and then, the results of its application in two communities. The cost model takes into account the expenditure of management on various waste flows and the revenues for the sale of by-products. A financial balance is ensured by the payments from households. Consequently, the unit pricing and the effect of the behaviour of the inhabitants are introduced into the simulation model. The application on two local authorities showed that the increase of sorting waste did not restore the balance. From the analysis, three reasons explain this situation: Thus, the development of the tariff must be carried out according to an economic approach. In the end, after the presentation of the financial modelling and its application, we make recommendations to aid the implementation of the PAYT system and the development of the pricing structures by local authorities.