RECYCLING IS AND REMAINS THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE

Recycling waste is one and a half times better for the environment than incinerating it with energy recovery. This was calculated by researchers from the English organisation WRAP (Waste and Resource Action Programme), who compared a large number of life cycle assessments from around the world. It reinforces earlier conclusions of the organisation from a few years ago.

That recycling waste is better for the environment than landfilling it or incinerating it in the furnace has been known for some time. Worldwide, all kinds of research is being done on the life cycle assessments (LCAs) of products and waste streams. WRAP has evaluated a large number of them and saw that around 63 per cent of the LCAs conclude that recycling plastic waste has 150% less impact on climate change compared to incineration with energy recovery.

No new raw materials

Mechanical recycling is the most environmentally friendly way of waste management, which is one of the main conclusions of the report Environmental Benefits of Recycling. Both in the area of climate change, the depletion of natural resources and in the area of energy consumption. The report emphasises that the environmental benefits in these three areas are mainly to be gained because recycling avoids the use of new raw materials.

Further conclusions on the recycling of plastic waste: the environmental benefit is maximised when the collection of plastic waste ensures high-quality material and by the 1-on-1 replacement of raw materials with recyclate. Incineration of plastic with energy recovery is only a poor alternative given the major impact it has on climate change, the researchers say. The worst alternative, as was confirmed again, is landfilling plastic waste. England is busy reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling is therefore becoming increasingly important, WRAP notes.

Through the law of the stimulating backlog, the country is making significant strides in its catch-up effort, in reducing emissions and working towards better waste management, including more recycling. The Netherlands can take this as an example. Whereas we were once a pioneer in the field of deposits on bottles and separate waste collection, all kinds of countries have now surpassed us in that area.

The conclusions of the WRAP report apply in particular to the waste streams of paper/cardboard, plastics and biopolymers. For wood and textiles, more research is needed, according to the researchers of the British organisation.

Read the WRAP study

Read the original 2006 study

For more information on:

WRAP

Recycling waste is one and a half times better for the environment than incinerating it with energy recovery. This was calculated by researchers from the English organisation WRAP (Waste and Resource Action Programme), who compared a large number of life cycle assessments from around the world. It reinforces earlier conclusions of the organisation from a few years ago.

That recycling waste is better for the environment than landfilling it or incinerating it in the furnace has been known for some time. Worldwide, all kinds of research is being done on the life cycle assessments (LCAs) of products and waste streams. WRAP has evaluated a large number of them and saw that around 63 per cent of the LCAs conclude that recycling plastic waste has 150% less impact on climate change compared to incineration with energy recovery.No new raw materials Mechanical recycling is the most environmentally friendly way of waste management, which is one of the main conclusions of the report Environmental Benefits of Recycling. Both in the area of climate change, the depletion of natural resources and in the area of energy consumption. The report emphasises that the environmental benefits in these three areas are mainly to be gained because recycling avoids the use of new raw materials. Further conclusions on the recycling of plastic waste: the environmental benefit is maximised when the collection of plastic waste ensures high-quality material and by the 1-on-1 replacement of raw materials with recyclate. Incineration of plastic with energy recovery is only a poor alternative given the major impact it has on climate change, the researchers say. The worst alternative, as was confirmed again, is landfilling plastic waste. England is busy reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling is therefore becoming increasingly important, WRAP notes. Through the law of the stimulating backlog, the country is making significant strides in its catch-up effort, in reducing emissions and working towards better waste management, including more recycling. The Netherlands can take this as an example. Whereas we were once a pioneer in the field of deposits on bottles and separate waste collection, all kinds of countries have now surpassed us in that area. The conclusions of the WRAP report apply in particular to the waste streams of paper/cardboard, plastics and biopolymers. For wood and textiles, more research is needed, according to the researchers of the British organisation. Read the WRAP study Read the original 2006 study For more information on: WRAP