Environmental effects of plastic waste recycling

To support the EU Plastic Strategy with quantitative figures, this study estimates the potential environmental effects achieved with recycling of selected polymers that are relevant at EU market level, applying Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and building upon previous research conducted by the Joint Research Centre. The polymers investigated include Polyethylene Terephthalate (both amorphous and bottle-grade), High-density Polyethylene, Low-density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, Expanded Polystyrene, Polyurethane, and Polyvinylchloride. The primary focus is on the impact category Climate Change, reflecting the effects of Greenhouse Gas emissions. Two different perspectives are considered in the analysis: i) the total system-wide effects that can be achieved when recycling is implemented in place of alternative treatment routes currently applied in the EU (waste management or system perspective) and ii) the savings attributable to the user of recycled polymer in place of an equivalent amount of virgin material (product perspective). Using recycled polymers in plastic product manufacture, GHG savings, expressed as Climate Change benefits, in the order of about 147-1 493 kg CO2-eq./t recycled polymer were quantified relative to using virgin material. At a system-wide level, GHG emission savings, expressed as Climate Change benefits, in the order of about 1 140-3 573 kg CO2-eq./t polymer waste can be achieved when one additional tonne of plastic waste is recycled in place of being sent to the alternative treatments applied today, which include a mix of incineration and landfilling. Such system-wide level savings account for both the replacement of virgin production (as in the product perspective) and the avoidance of current incineration and landfilling practices. The results of this study are highly relevant for circular economy policies related to plastics and for informing, through quantitative figures, how the circular economy can contribute to the objectives of the EU Green Deal, especially in respect to decarbonisation.