Dictionary
Problematic Waste
Mixed plastic waste (also referred to as problematic or hard-to-process waste) consists of blends of plastics like PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), and PS (polystyrene). Each of these polymers has distinct chemical and physical properties, making their simultaneous processing challenging. Mixed plastic waste arises due to two main factors: improper sorting at the household level, which complicates subsequent separation, and the limited capability of municipal sorting facilities to precisely segregate different types of plastics. Even advanced technological systems struggle to identify and separate all types of plastics (PE, PP, PS, PET, etc.), especially when they are dirty, mixed, or contaminated with other materials like metals or glass.
Recycling
Recycling involves the recovery process where waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials, or substances for their original purpose or other applications. This includes the reprocessing of organic materials (organic recycling) but excludes energy recovery and processing materials intended for use as fuel or in earthworks. (Source: Waste Act)
Chemical Recycling
Chemical recycling refers to a group of technologies that transform mixed and/or contaminated plastic waste into materials with properties identical to virgin plastics. Through chemical recycling, challenging plastic waste is converted into recyclates suitable for demanding end uses, such as food contact materials, medical applications, or high-safety products (e.g., automotive components). Achieving such properties is not always possible through mechanical recycling. (Source: PlasticsEurope)
Waste Hierarchy
The European Waste Hierarchy is a principle of waste management in the EU that defines five priority actions to minimize the environmental impact of waste, listed from most to least desirable: 1. Prevention – reducing waste generation, 2. Reuse – using products without processing them, 3. Recycling – recovering materials from waste, 4. Energy Recovery – using waste to produce energy, 5. Disposal – landfilling or incineration without recovery. The goal is to promote more sustainable practicesń.
Regranulate
Regranulate is a secondary raw material obtained from processed plastic waste. The process involves converting used plastics (e.g., PE films) into small granules that can be reused in the production of new plastic products. Regranulates are often used as substitutes for virgin, new plastic materials, helping reduce the consumption of natural resources and limiting waste production. They are widely utilized in various industries, such as packaging, construction components, or household goods.
Liquid Recyclate
Liquid recyclate is a secondary raw material derived from the recycling of mixed plastic waste (challenging to process using traditional methods). It is intended for use in the petrochemical industry. This hydrocarbon oil, produced through thermal-catalytic processing (TCP), can serve as a feedstock for producing new plastics, supporting the circular economy.
Thermal-Catalytic Process
The thermal-catalytic process is a method of processing materials using heat and catalysts to facilitate chemical reactions. These processes are widely used in the chemical, petrochemical, and recycling industries, including plastic recycling. Examples include: - Pyrolysis: The decomposition of organic materials at high temperatures in an oxygen-free atmosphere, producing syngas, pyrolysis oil, and char. - Catalytic Cracking: A process that converts long hydrocarbon chains into shorter, more valuable products like gasoline or oils.
Virgin Material
In the case of plastics, virgin material refers primarily to crude oil and natural gas. These raw materials are used to produce monomers, which are the building blocks for polymers—the main components of plastics. The process involves chemically transforming crude oil or gas into various types of plastics, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). When recycled material is said to be of a quality comparable to virgin material, it means its physical and chemical properties are at a level that allows it to function similarly or equivalently to the original virgin material.