Five solutions to the plastic recycling crisis

Recycling Netwerk previously pointed out the major investments in plastics from shale gas that made plastics increasingly cheap. Due to the Corona crisis, the demand for fossil fuels is also decreasing. As a result, the prices of plastics made from fossil raw materials are plummeting. Because of these cheap virgin plastics, plastic waste recyclers are finding it increasingly difficult to find buyers for their recycled plastics, as shown in the report by KRO-NCRV. Recycled material is piling up.

The Dutch and European governments can solve the problem with a package of 5 policy measures, says Director Rob Buurman of environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk:

Introduce a tax on virgin plastics that is high enough to make recycled plastics attractive. This will make companies less likely to choose new, virgin plastics. The European Commission already sees a plastic tax as an option for funding the European Green Deal, but it is important that the tax on virgin plastics is high enough to have a steering sustainable effect.

Make the use of recyclate in products mandatory. New plastic products consist of less than 10 per cent recycled plastics, according to enquiries made by De Monitor with companies. By mandating minimum amounts of recyclate in new products, companies will use more plastic from processed waste and less plastic from oil. This also leads to better recyclable products and improved collection. Because manufacturers need the waste from their own products, they adjust the design process so that its waste can be easily collected and used later. State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management Stientje van Veldhoven tells De Monitor that she is a strong supporter of a minimum requirement at European level.

Limit the number of types of plastics on the market. Different polymers with different additives for different applications lead to hundreds of combinations that are often collected together. Producers have far too much freedom of choice. This makes proper collection and recycling virtually impossible from the start. Choices must be made for certain types of plastics for specific applications, with a limited choice of additives and a strong preference for products made of a single type of plastic.

Phase out single-use plastics wherever possible. Reverse the burden of proof: for example, let supermarkets prove that plastic packaging around fruit and vegetables is absolutely necessary to transport and sell them. Identify product systems that can completely switch to reusable alternatives, such as coffee cups or plastic plant trays, and enforce this. No single-use plastic is the standard; its use must be legitimized. This year's French law for the circular economy provides for the phasing out of all single-use plastics by 2040.

Ban the export of plastic waste to countries outside Europe. Europe still exports plastic waste because it is cheaper to process or dump it elsewhere. Since the Chinese import ban, much European waste ends up in landfills in places like Turkey. By deciding that Europe processes the waste itself, we stimulate the European recycling sector and prevent the leakage of plastics in countries that have less effective waste systems.

“The Dutch government and Europe have relatively little control over the oil price or the market price of virgin plastics. However, with this package of measures, they can prevent the European recycling sector from collapsing as a result. The measures lead to more certainty for recycling companies and thus to the preservation of jobs. A solid legal framework is the best possible support package for the recycling industry,” says Recycling Netwerk.

Several of the measures are best introduced at the European level, but we call on the Dutch government to explore what can already be achieved in the Netherlands, and how the measures can best be implemented. We are happy to make our knowledge available for this and call on companies using plastics, the recycling sector, and retail to endorse the measures, concludes environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk Benelux.

Read also: Ethical Corporation by Reuters, The war on plastics runs into a perfect storm with Covid-19, 8 June 2020

Watch also the broadcast of De Monitor about the crisis in the plastic recycling sector, Monday 8 June at 22:20 on NPO2

Recycling Netwerk previously pointed out the major investments in plastics from shale gas that made plastics increasingly cheap. Due to the Corona crisis, the demand for fossil fuels is also decreasing. As a result, the prices of plastics made from fossil raw materials are plummeting. Because of these cheap virgin plastics, plastic waste recyclers are finding it increasingly difficult to find buyers for their recycled plastics, as shown in the report by KRO-NCRV. Recycled material is piling up.

The Dutch and European governments can solve the problem with a package of 5 policy measures, says Director Rob Buurman of environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk:

Introduce a tax on virgin plastics that is high enough to make recycled plastics attractive. This will make companies less likely to choose new, virgin plastics. The European Commission already sees a plastic tax as an option for funding the European Green Deal, but it is important that the tax on virgin plastics is high enough to have a steering sustainable effect.

Make the use of recyclate in products mandatory. New plastic products consist of less than 10 per cent recycled plastics, according to enquiries made by De Monitor with companies. By mandating minimum amounts of recyclate in new products, companies will use more plastic from processed waste and less plastic from oil. This also leads to better recyclable products and improved collection. Because manufacturers need the waste from their own products, they adjust the design process so that its waste can be easily collected and used later. State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management Stientje van Veldhoven tells De Monitor that she is a strong supporter of a minimum requirement at European level.

Limit the number of types of plastics on the market. Different polymers with different additives for different applications lead to hundreds of combinations that are often collected together. Producers have far too much freedom of choice. This makes proper collection and recycling virtually impossible from the start. Choices must be made for certain types of plastics for specific applications, with a limited choice of additives and a strong preference for products made of a single type of plastic.

Phase out single-use plastics wherever possible. Reverse the burden of proof: for example, let supermarkets prove that plastic packaging around fruit and vegetables is absolutely necessary to transport and sell them. Identify product systems that can completely switch to reusable alternatives, such as coffee cups or plastic plant trays, and enforce this. No single-use plastic is the standard; its use must be legitimized. This year's French law for the circular economy provides for the phasing out of all single-use plastics by 2040.

Ban the export of plastic waste to countries outside Europe. Europe still exports plastic waste because it is cheaper to process or dump it elsewhere. Since the Chinese import ban, much European waste ends up in landfills in places like Turkey. By deciding that Europe processes the waste itself, we stimulate the European recycling sector and prevent the leakage of plastics in countries that have less effective waste systems.

“The Dutch government and Europe have relatively little control over the oil price or the market price of virgin plastics. However, with this package of measures, they can prevent the European recycling sector from collapsing as a result. The measures lead to more certainty for recycling companies and thus to the preservation of jobs. A solid legal framework is the best possible support package for the recycling industry,” says Recycling Netwerk.

Several of the measures are best introduced at the European level, but we call on the Dutch government to explore what can already be achieved in the Netherlands, and how the measures can best be implemented. We are happy to make our knowledge available for this and call on companies using plastics, the recycling sector, and retail to endorse the measures, concludes environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk Benelux.

Read also: Ethical Corporation by Reuters, The war on plastics runs into a perfect storm with Covid-19, 8 June 2020

Watch also the broadcast of De Monitor about the crisis in the plastic recycling sector, Monday 8 June at 22:20 on NPO2