Due to inflation, Austrians segregated somewhat less packaging trash in 2022 than the previous year.
The quantity collected by Altstoff Recycling Austria (ARA) decreased by 3.9 percent to little more over 1 million tons, according to the local trash management business on Tuesday. The drop is due to the Ukraine war and the subsequent inflationary surge.
Metal collection quantities have somewhat increased
Metal collection volumes grew slightly to roughly 32,000 tons (up 0.6 percent) while glass collection volumes climbed slightly to 259,000 tons (up 1.8 percent). Paper waste separation, on the other hand, fell to 574,000 tons (down 6.7 percent) and light packaging to 175,000 tons (down 3.0 percent).
However, beginning January 2023, the collective conversion of lightweight packaging has shown the first beneficial effects: volumes grew by 30 percent in conversion zones and by roughly 11 percent overall.
ARA has invested in new areas "in order to close material cycles along the entire value chain" in addition to creating the "largest and most modern sorting facility in Europe." The business sought for a patent for plastic recycling.
ARA has been pushing the circular economy for 30 years, and during that time, with a market share of 70% and almost 16,000 clients, the company has avoided over 14 million tons of CO2. This equates to almost 130 billion automobile kilometers.
Over the last three decades, performance has grown by 60% while unit prices have decreased by 53%. "Over the last 30 years, the ARA has prepared business, society, and politics for the circular economy; now their time has come," says ARA Supervisory Board Chairman Alfred Berger.
The recycling app Digi-Cycle, a joint venture with Saubermacher AG, the digital data platform DiGiDO and the construction of the most modern sorting facility in Europe paved the way "for a forward-looking, circular economic system".
ARA has reacted to legislative obstacles such as recycling limits, amendments to the Waste Management Act and the Packaging Ordinance, the European Supply Chain Act, and the EU's "Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive" with expenditures. It brings up new opportunities to improve the number of recyclable materials across the value chain.
ARA calls for coordinating agency at government level
According to ARA board member Harald Hauke, in order to embed the "circular economy" structurally, it must occur throughout industries and supply chains. As a result, the ARA advocates for a government-level coordinating organization that collaborates with European institutions and facilitates practical implementation.
The policies outlined in the EU's "Green Deal" will cause "significant changes in business and politics." The lofty targets for plastic recycling - at least 55% by 2030 in all EU member states - and at least 30% utilization of recyclate in new manufacturing by 2030 necessitated new economic activity.
According to its own statements, ARA delivered around 36,000 tons of baled items for mechanical recycling and approximately 330 tons of recyclates to packaging makers last year. Martin Prieler, an ARA board member, predicts a further increase to roughly 50,000 tons of baled commodities by 2025. "The demand for recyclates will skyrocket; we'll need better quality sorting, higher sorting system output, and more pure-type processing."
Collection, sorting, and alternative recycling are the three pillars of recycling success. However, not all plastics can be mechanically recycled. "In order to return this part to the cycle, we developed a completely new solution and were able to apply for a patent," Hauke exclaims.
The collecting of packaging is being pushed with over two million public collection containers. The new Upper Austria facility, a joint effort of ARA, Bernegger, and Der Grüne Punkt, is crucial in sorting. "The Ennshafen facility closes 50 percent of the sorting gap in Austria," Prieler said.
While the existing plant infrastructure provides a sorting depth of 58 percent, the ARA's infrastructure should reach an 80 percent sorting depth. It will begin regular operations in the second quarter of next year, following an initial test in February 2024. It will be swamped with lightweight packing, 70% of which will come from Austria and 30% from Germany. "The sorted quantities form an optimal basis for the processing of recyclates and are part of the comprehensive ARA strategy to meet recycling targets."
Many materials or packaging are not recyclable due to differing compositions and soiling - not every plastic may be utilized as a material and sent for mechanical recycling. Mechanical recycling alternatives are required.
Most mixed plastic fractions (MCF) do not, however, satisfy the standards for chemical recycling. They would need to be extra prepared for this. ARA has filed a patent application for the recycling of leftover plastics. She created a method for processing polyolefins (PO) in order to sort wastes from Austrian sorting factories.
ARA believes that with larger numbers, a new sorting system, and various processing methods, a sorting depth of 80 percent can be obtained by 2025. "With these measures, we are increasing the recycling rate from 25 percent to around 50 percent," Prieler explains.
Recycling must be considered from the beginning for all recyclable materials coming into circulation. In addition to chemical recycling, building material recycling and textile recycling should be essential pillars of the circular economy.
When it comes to textile recycling, ARA is taking a hands-on approach in order to prepare the economy for the January 1, 2025 regulation requiring the separate collection of all textile goods. Every year, around 220,000 tons of textiles wind up in the trash, with just about a fifth of them being collected individually.
Thermal recycling (waste incineration) accounted for 77% of all textiles. As a result, they are lost as raw materials in mechanical and chemical recycling. "It's a waste of resources that shouldn't exist," said Prieler. Textile recycling necessitates binding eco-design criteria. Because processing into secondary raw materials is not considered in textile manufacture, the recyclability of the materials offers significant issues for the sector. In a joint ARA pilot project, the Lenzing Group, the laundry service provider Salesianer Miettex, the Swedish pulp manufacturer Södra, and Caritas will convert up to 100 tons of cotton textiles into new lyocell and viscose fibers.
To fulfill the recycling goals, societal motivation, i.e. the population's excitement for trash separation, is critical - together with entrepreneurial inventive strength and political rules.
According to its own declarations, ARA is the industry leader in packaging, waste electrical equipment, and battery collecting and recycling systems. ARAplus GmbH, Austria Glas Recycling GmbH, DiGiDO GmbH, Digi-Cycle GmbH, and ERA GmbH are its subsidiaries. It is owned by local businesses and runs as a non-profit organization.
Source: APA/Vienna Online