Feature

Why we must invest in processing to meet recycling goals

The European Commission (EC) has ruled that EU states must reduce packaging waste by five percent by 2030. These rules cover both packaging design and waste management. Most waste management schemes rely on mechanical recycling – a method that Greenpeace argues “will always fail” for plastics because they are “virtually impossible to sort”.

29/05/2024 16:58:25

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Here, Stephen Harding, Managing Director of Gough Engineering, disagrees and explains why companies must invest in processing equipment to recover and gain value from their recycled products, such as plastics masterbatch,
to meet the EC’s goals.

Greenpeace is right to address the shortcomings of current mechanical recycling when dealing with plastics. The organisation’s ‘Circular Claims Fall Flat Again’ report also highlights that plastic
recycling rates declined to about five percent in 2021, down from 8.7 percent in 2018. The report suggests that a lack of recycling infrastructure has impeded how companies deal with plastic waste.

Frankly, we agree. Today’s recycling processing centres are not equipped to deal with the influx of recycling they receive – let alone the ability to meet ambitious new targets.

What’s more, these
centres must resize inconsistent shapes of various materials into a consistently shaped final product. The answer to these challenges is to invest in shredding/granulation, sieving and sorting equipment.

Read the full article in DPA's June 2024 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.