When is packaging recyclable? The „Minimum standard for assessing the recyclability of packaging subject to system participation“ now defines this more precisely. The Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) published the 18-page document on 1 September 2019.
The Minimum standard is aimed at the Dual systems. According to Section 21 of the Packaging Act, they are called upon to honour the design for recycling-friendly packaging. Their customers, the „Distributor“ of packaging should pay lower participation fees for exemplary packaging.
„Packaging whose recyclable materials are returned to the cycle through high-quality recycling and from which new products and packaging are created must be financially favoured,“ describes ZSVR-Board member Gunda Rachut explains the basic idea behind the incentive system. There is a need for action: „Unfortunately, we are also seeing many counterproductive developments due to the ‚plastic debate‘.“
The minimum standard makes it clear that Material mixtures, which are currently on the rise and often have little to no recyclability.“
Gunda Rachut, Management Board Central Agency Packaging Register
Evaluation criteria for each material fraction
The minimum standard, which is to be updated annually in future, specifies for each material group and each Material fraction Criteria for the Recycling justice. It describes what is to be understood as a „good material“, what the reasons for exclusion are for good recyclability and which recyclable materials can be recycled well. In the case of plastics, for example, it is assumed that the main polymer giving the material its name, such as Polypropylene (PP) or Polyethylene (PE) is the more recyclable, the higher its proportion.
The document also defines „recycling incompatibilities“ and factors that make automatic, sensor-based sorting of a material in the sorting plants more difficult. In this sense, packaging made of dark plastic or almost fully labelled or metallised materials would not be suitable for recycling, for example. Also Multilayer packaging are generally difficult to sort automatically.
The Cologne-based waste disposal service provider Reclay Systems announced details of the premium model for recyclable packaging at the beginning of October. Distributors are to be credited one per cent of the total licence volume for packaging that is proven to be easily recyclable. If the customer does not utilise the premium or only partially utilises it, the remaining amount is to be donated, Reclay Systems announces. The aim is to support environmental projects run by non-profit organisations. „In this way, the Recycling premium only advantages,“ concludes the company.
Disposal companies offer software tools
So that Packaging developer to find their way around the new requirements, waste management companies such as The Green Dot or Bellandvision offer their customers extensive information material and organise workshops. Bellandvision has also developed an online assessment tool for the recyclability of specific packaging. Der Grüne Punkt also offers such a tool with its „ReyclingCOMPASS“.
Also Interseroh now offers companies an online tool to assess the recyclability of packaging. The „Check for Recycling“ online test provides information on how well product packaging can be collected separately, sorted and recycled into new products.
Trade associations: don't just focus on high-quality recycling
The relevant trade associations largely welcome the catalogue of criteria that is now available. The Federal Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Disposal (bvse), for example, speaks of „important assistance for product developers and manufacturers“. However, Eric Rehbock, Managing Director of the bvse, warns in a media report against focussing solely on high-quality material recycling. In order to minimise the high Recycling rates In order to fulfil the requirements of the EU, the recycling of lower-quality recyclable materials such as mixed plastics into simple products must also be intensified.
