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Characterization of the Municipal Plastic and Multilayer Packaging Waste in Three Cities of the Baltic States

Author

Listed:
  • Pavlo Lyshtva

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate Tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia)

  • Artūras Torkelis

    (Department of Environmental Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilėnų pl. 19, LT-50254 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Yaroslav Kobets

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate Tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia)

  • Estefania Carpio-Vallejo

    (Research and Transfer Centre Sustainability & Climate Change Management (FTZ-NK), Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, 21033 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Andrea Dobri

    (Research and Transfer Centre Sustainability & Climate Change Management (FTZ-NK), Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, 21033 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Jelena Barbir

    (Research and Transfer Centre Sustainability & Climate Change Management (FTZ-NK), Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, 21033 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Viktoria Voronova

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate Tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia)

  • Gintaras Denafas

    (Department of Environmental Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilėnų pl. 19, LT-50254 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Linas Kliucininkas

    (Department of Environmental Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilėnų pl. 19, LT-50254 Kaunas, Lithuania)

Abstract

The composition of plastic and multilayer packaging waste was assessed in the mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) streams of the Kaunas (Lithuania), Daugavpils (Latvia) and Tallinn (Estonia) municipalities. For the analysis of samples in the mixed MSW streams, the authors used manual sorting and a visual recognition method. Composition analysis of plastic and multilayer packaging waste from separately collected waste of multi-family and single-family households was performed in the Kaunas and Tallinn municipalities. For the analysis of samples in the separately collected waste streams, the research group combined manual sorting and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy methods. The findings reveal that the percentage distribution of plastic and multilayer packaging waste within the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream is relatively consistent across the municipalities of Kaunas, Daugavpils and Tallinn, comprising 40.16%, 36.83% and 35.09%, respectively. However, a notable variation emerges when examining separately collected plastic and multilayer packaging waste streams. In this category, the proportion of plastic and multilayer packaging within the total separately collected packaging waste stream ranges from 62.05% to 74.7% for multi-family residential buildings and from 44.66% to 56.89% for single-family residential buildings. The authors provided further insights for the enhanced recycling potential of different plastic materials through improved sorting.

Suggested Citation

  • Pavlo Lyshtva & Artūras Torkelis & Yaroslav Kobets & Estefania Carpio-Vallejo & Andrea Dobri & Jelena Barbir & Viktoria Voronova & Gintaras Denafas & Linas Kliucininkas, 2025. "Characterization of the Municipal Plastic and Multilayer Packaging Waste in Three Cities of the Baltic States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:3:p:986-:d:1577064
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