Table 2.
Sorting and recycling rates of target materials at the MRFs and RECs surveyed in the study. For the purpose of comparison, we report the figures from selected literature studies that provide primary data from full-scale operating plants in EU. Average, median, 75% percentile and standard deviation (TD: triangular distribution was assumed) are calculated on the basis of the primary and literature data listed in the Table. These parameters are the ones used for the material flow analysis modelling. MRF: material recovery facility; REC: recycling plant; NA: not available.
| Plant ID/Reference | PET | PP | PS | Films | HDPE | PVC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sorting rate | ||||||
| MRF1 | 45% | 31% | 31% | 55% | 95% | |
| MRF2 | 84% | 72% | 87% | |||
| MRF3 | 80% | 65% | 60% | 85% | ||
| MRF4 | 25% | 18% | ||||
| MRF5 | 97% | 89% | 13% | |||
| Eule (2013) | 94% | 73% | 86% | |||
| Mastellone et al. (2017) | 89% | 7% | 100% | |||
| Van Eygen et al. (2018) | 72% | 44% | 37% | 53% | ||
| WRAP (2019) | 91% | 91% | 79% | 85% | 98% | 73% |
| Conte (2016) | 62% | 78% | 21% | 64% | ||
| Brouwer et al. (2019) | 86% | 68% | 59% | 77% | ||
| Brouwer et al. (2018) | 84% | 60% | 49% | 80% | ||
| Average | 81% | 57% | 47% | 58% | 76% | 73% |
| Mediana | 85% | 64% | 37% | 59% | 85% | 73% |
| 75% percentileb | 91% | 79% | 65% | 73% | 91% | 73% |
| Standard deviation (TD) | 11% | 18% | 12% | 15% | 19% | NA |
| Recycling rate | ||||||
| REC1 | 53% | 55% | ||||
| REC2 | 66% | |||||
| REC3 | 63% | |||||
| REC4 | 70% | 70% | ||||
| REC5 | 87% | |||||
| REC6 | 60% | 72% | ||||
| REC7 | 90% | 72% | 50% | 88% | ||
| REC8 | 85% | 75% | ||||
| WRAP (2019) | 75% | 56% | 57% | 71% | 87% | 80% |
| Brouwer et al. (2019) | 95% | 95% | 94% | 95% | ||
| Brouwer et al. (2018) | 93% | 86% | 86% | 94% | ||
| Average | 80% | 71% | 66% | 71% | 84% | 80% |
| Mediana | 81% | 66% | 66% | 71% | 88% | 80% |
| 75% percentileb | 91% | 85% | 71% | 86% | 93% | 80% |
| Standard deviation (TD) | 7% | 9% | 4% | 9% | 5% | NA |
a
main value used in the “status quo” MFA scenario.
b
main value used in the “future targets” MFA scenario.