EPRO offers plastic recycling statistics

The recycling rate for plastic packaging rose slightly from 39.5 percent in 2014 to 40.9 percent in 2016, according to statistics circulated by the European Association of Plastics Recycling & Recovery Organisations (EPRO). When energy recovery is added, the total diversion rate neared 80 percent, according to the EPRO.

“This shows that the national recycling schemes in Europe, based on extended producer responsibility (EPR), manage well,” EPRO states.

All the EU 28+ 2 (Norway and Switzerland) countries in 2016 exceeded the EU minimum targets of 22.5 percent for recycling, the EPRO indicates. Twenty-six countries (24 in 2014) recycled more than 30 percent, 15 countries surpassed 40 percent. In 2014, the Czech Republic ranked on the top with a recycling rate of 51.2 percent followed by Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland and Spain.

“There is unparalleled interest and focus on plastic packaging resource management at the moment,” says Stuart Foster, the CEO of United Kingdom-based RECOUP and the current director of EPRO. “These statistics are fundamental in understanding the current position across Europe and possible ways forwards around household, commercial and agricultural sector plastic packaging recycling.”

The EPRO indicates 64 percent of Europe’s post-consumer plastic packaging scrap is generated from households, while the remaining 36 percent comes from the trade and industry segment.

Energy recovery hit 38.8 percent in 2016 (up slightly from 38.5 percent in 2014). In total 79.7 percent of all plastic packaging scrap was recycled or recovered for energy in 2016, with the balance going to landfills and incineration. Some 3.4 million metric tons of plastic packaging in Europe ended up in landfills in 2016, according to the EPRO.

There are still differences on energy recovery results within Europe, the organization indicates, with most countries in northern Europe diverting 90 to 100 percent of plastic packaging while some other countries still landfill most plastic packaging that is not sorted out for recycling.