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Santomasi G, Aquilino R, Brouwer M, De Gisi S, Smeding I, Todaro F, Notarnicola M, Thoden van Velzen EU. Strategies to enhance the circularity of non-bottle PET packaging waste based on a detailed material characterisation. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 186:293-306. [PMID: 38954921 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The compositions of Dutch lightweight packaging waste (LWP) and sorted products named "PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) trays" have been determined on object level. Additionally, the PET trays from both waste types were sorted in 16 categories representing their packaging use and material build-up. The material composition of at least 10 representative trays from each category was determined with chemical and thermal analysis, based on which the average material composition per category was established. Based on this data the average material composition of sorted PET tray products was approximated. The recyclability of the various categories of PET trays was assessed based on their material build-up. The most ubiquitous PET trays in Dutch LWP and sorted products were only found to be suitable to produce opaque recycled PET with mechanical recycling processes. Whereas only some more uncommon PET trays can be used to produce transparent recycled PET with mechanical recycling processes. Depolymerisation is deemed to be a more appropriate recycling process that will allow the production of transparent food-grade recycled PET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giusy Santomasi
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona n.4, I-70125 Bari, Italy.
| | - Rosiana Aquilino
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona n.4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Marieke Brouwer
- Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sabino De Gisi
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona n.4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Ingeborg Smeding
- Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Francesco Todaro
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona n.4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Michele Notarnicola
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona n.4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Eggo U Thoden van Velzen
- Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, the Netherlands
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