Waste plastics European data

SOFRES Conseil for APME, Information System on Plastic Waste Management in Western Europe, European Overview, 1995 Data , APME, Brussels, 1997. 

Plastic waste is classified into several subcategories in the USEPA compilation and the fraction of specific resins in each, identified. It is instmctive to study the data (despite their limited reliability) to identify which types of plastics are prevalent in the MSW stream. Table 9.1 shows that four resins (low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), HDPE, and PET) dominate the plastics fraction in the MSW. Of these, the PET and HDPE are recycled to a significant extent (at 28% and 6% respectively). Majority of the plastic wastes however is landfiUed. The United States lags behind European countries such as Sweden, Austria, Belgium, and Germany as well as Japan in plastics waste recovery. 

Our actions are part of an ambitious program to valorize all plastic materials at their end of life, to treat all the waste from our industries. This program is based on the study of the impact of polymers, from their produetion to their treatment after use. Each year, PlasticsEurope invests 250,000 euros to update arrd complete the lifecycle analysis of the production of polymers. We share data and collaborate closely with the Joint Research Center of the European Commission which works on calculating the environmental impact of products throughout their lifecycle. 

Plastics Europe. Plastics—the Facts 2013. An anatysis of European latest plastics production, demand and waste data. Brussels 2013. 

Plastics - the Facts 2013 An Analysis of European Latest Plastics Production, Demand and Waste Data, PlasticsEurope, Brussels, Belgium. http //www.plasticseurope.org/Document/plastics-the-facts-2013.aspx... 

Plastics-the Facts 2012. An analysis of European plastics production, demand and waste data for 2011. Available at http //www. plasticseurope.org/Document/plastics-the-facts-2012.aspx Page= DOCUMENT FolID=2 (accessed 17 November 2012). 

---