Recovery & Recycling of Pet
Recovery & recycling of PET
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive
The European Union, with the adoption of its Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, 94/62/EC as amended by 2004/12/EC, is legislating for more effective recovery of used packaging and for the reduction of the impact of packaging on the environment.
a) More effective recovery
Recovery of PET packaging falls under the requirements for recovery and is classed together with other plastic materials in the targets laid down in directive 2004/12/EC:
Overall recovery: minimum 60% of packaging waste Overall recycling of packaging waste (including feedstock recycling): between 55% and 80% Minimum recycling differentiated by material, for plastics 22.5% (including only what is recycled back to plastics)
Member States must meet these targets by 2008, with the exception of Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and the accession countries, which are allowed to delay their attainment.
b) Minimisation of the environmental impact
To be allowed on the market, packaging articles must comply with the following essential requirements:
The content of heavy metals (Cd, CrVI, Hg, and Pb) must be lower than 100 ppm. The use of substances dangerous for the environment must be minimised. The articles must be recoverable by material recycling, organic recycling, and/or energy recovery (at least one of the three). They must be suitable for reuse (when relevant and claimed). The volume or weight of the packaging article must be limited to the minimum adequate amount to maintain the necessary level of safety, hygiene, and consumer acceptance.
c) Status of PET
PET is widely recycled as a material, making a large contribution to the recycling targets required for plastics by the EU directive. When material recycling is not feasible, PET can be incinerated with energy recovery.
Moreover, PET usually does not contain heavy metals and/or substances dangerous for the environment.
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive
The European Union, with the adoption of its Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, 94/62/EC as amended by 2004/12/EC, is legislating for more effective recovery of used packaging and for the reduction of the impact of packaging on the environment.
a) More effective recovery
Recovery of PET packaging falls under the requirements for recovery and is classed together with other plastic materials in the targets laid down in directive 2004/12/EC:
Overall recovery: minimum 60% of packaging waste Overall recycling of packaging waste (including feedstock recycling): between 55% and 80% Minimum recycling differentiated by material, for plastics 22.5% (including only what is recycled back to plastics)
Member States must meet these targets by 2008, with the exception of Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and the accession countries, which are allowed to delay their attainment.
b) Minimisation of the environmental impact
To be allowed on the market, packaging articles must comply with the following essential requirements:
The content of heavy metals (Cd, CrVI, Hg, and Pb) must be lower than 100 ppm. The use of substances dangerous for the environment must be minimised. The articles must be recoverable by material recycling, organic recycling, and/or energy recovery (at least one of the three). They must be suitable for reuse (when relevant and claimed). The volume or weight of the packaging article must be limited to the minimum adequate amount to maintain the necessary level of safety, hygiene, and consumer acceptance.
c) Status of PET
PET is widely recycled as a material, making a large contribution to the recycling targets required for plastics by the EU directive. When material recycling is not feasible, PET can be incinerated with energy recovery.
Moreover, PET usually does not contain heavy metals and/or substances dangerous for the environment.