The Effect of Heat Source on Cost of Preparation of Household Food Packaging Waste for Recycling

The study concerns the preparation of post-consumer food packaging for selective collection that takes place in households. The previously reported results suggested that the economic cost of washing the packaging exceeded the value of recyclable materials. A shortage of up-to-date papers on the economic balance of packaging washing, taking into account current trends in the increase of prices of materials and energy carriers, has been identified. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of the application of particular heat sources on the total cost of preparing the glass and plastic packaging for selective collection, as well as to compare the cost with the economic value of recyclables. Over the last ten years, a drop in the purchase price of glass cullet and post-consumer plastic, as well as an increase in the cost of cold and hot water, have been reported. Accordingly, the profit of packaging cleaning, defined as the difference between the value of recyclable materials and the cost of washing them, has decreased. The energy consumed for water heating was identified as the most relevant factor affecting the entire economic balance. Even assuming the most efficient water heating solutions, the pre-treatment of the post-consumer food packaging turned out to be unprofitable. The conclusion reached in the previously published study has been confirmed.