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Author |
Larraín, M.; Van Passel, S.; Thomassen, G.; Van Gorp, B.; Nhu, T.T.; Huysveld, S.; Van Geem, K.M.; De Meester, S.; Billen, P. |
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Title |
Techno-economic assessment of mechanical recycling of challenging post-consumer plastic packaging waste |
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A1 Journal article |
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Year  |
2021 |
Publication |
Resources Conservation And Recycling |
Abbreviated Journal |
Resour Conserv Recy |
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Volume |
170 |
Issue |
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Pages |
105607 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS) |
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Abstract |
Increasing plastic recycling rates is crucial to tackle plastic pollution and reduce consumption of fossil resources. Recycling routes for post-consumer plastic fractions that are technologically and economically feasible remain a challenge. Profitable value chains for recycling mixed film and tray-like plastics have hardly been implemented today, in sharp contrast to recycling of relatively pure fractions such as polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene bottles. This study examines the economic feasibility of implementing mechanical recycling for plastic waste such as polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene films and mixed polyolefins. In most European countries these plastic fractions are usually incinerated or landfilled whilst in fact technologies exist to mechanically recycle them into regranulates or regrinds. Results show that the economic incentives for the recycling of plastic packaging depend predominantly on the product price and product yield. At current price levels, the most profitable plastic fraction to be recycled is PS rigids, with an internal rate of return of 14%, whereas the least profitable feed is a mixed polyolefin fraction with a negative internal rate of return in a scenario with steadily rising oil prices. Moreover, these values would be substantially reduced if oil prices, and therefore plastic product prices decrease. Considering a discount rate of 15% for a 15-year period, mechanical recycling is not profitable if no policy changes would be imposed by governments. Clearly low oil prices may jeopardize the mechanical recycling industry, inducing the need for policies that would increase the demand of recycled products such as imposing minimal recycled content targets. |
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Wos |
000667309200042 |
Publication Date |
2021-04-20 |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0921-3449 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
3.313 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
OpenAccess |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 3.313 |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:177325 |
Serial |
6946 |
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Author |
Thomassen, G.; Huysveld, S.; Boone, L.; Vilain, C.; Geysen, D.; Huysman, K.; Cools, B.; Dewulf, J. |
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Title |
The environmental impact of household's water use: A case study in Flanders assessing various water sources, production methods and consumption patterns |
Type |
A1 Journal Article |
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Year |
2021 |
Publication |
Science Of The Total Environment |
Abbreviated Journal |
Sci Total Environ |
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Volume |
770 |
Issue |
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Pages |
145398 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM) ; |
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Abstract |
Responsible water use and sustainable consumption and production are high on the agenda of multiple stakeholders. Different water supply sources are available, including tap water, bottled water, domestically harvested rainwater and domestically abstracted groundwater. The extent to which each of these water supply sources is used, differs over consumption patterns in various housing types, being detached houses, semi-detached houses, terraced houses and apartments. To identify the environmental impact of a household's water use and potential environmental impact reduction strategies, a holistic assessment is required. In this paper, the environmental impact of a household's water use in Flanders (Belgium) was assessed including four different water supply sources and four different consumption patterns by means of a life cycle assessment. The outcomes of this study reveal a large difference between the environmental impact of bottled water use, having a global warming impact of 259 kg CO2-eq.·m−3, compared to the other three supply sources. Tap water supply had the lowest global warming impact (0.17 kg CO2-eq.·m−3) and resource footprint (6.51 MJex·m−3) of all water supply sources. The most efficient strategy to reduce the environmental impact of household's water use is to shift the water consumption from bottled to tap water consumption. This would induce a reduction in global warming impact of the water use of an inhabitant in Flanders by on average 80%, saving 0.1 kg CO2-eq.·day−1 in case of groundwater-based tap water. These results provide insights into sustainable water use for multiple consumption patterns and can be used to better frame the environmental benefits of tap water use. |
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Publication Date |
2021-01-27 |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0048-9697 |
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Additional Links |
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Impact Factor |
4.9 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
Not_Open_Access |
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Notes |
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 4.9 |
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Call Number |
ENM @ enm @ |
Serial |
6681 |
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Author |
Kleinhans, K.; Hallemans, M.; Huysveld, S.; Thomassen, G.; Ragaert, K.; Van Geem, K.M.; Roosen, M.; Mys, N.; Dewulf, J.; De Meester, S. |
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Title |
Development and application of a predictive modelling approach for household packaging waste flows in sorting facilities |
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A1 Journal Article |
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Year |
2021 |
Publication |
Waste Management |
Abbreviated Journal |
Waste Management |
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120 |
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290-302 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM) ; |
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Abstract |
Household packaging waste sorting facilities consist of complex networks of processes to separate diverse waste streams. These facilities are a key first step to re-enter materials into the recycling chain. However, so far there are no general methods to predict the performance of such sorting facilities, i.e.
how efficiently the heterogeneous packaging waste is sorted into fractions with value for further recycling. In this paper, a model of the material flow in a sorting facility is presented, which allows changing the incoming waste composition, split factors on the sorting units as well as the setup of the sorting facility. The performance of the sorting facility is judged based on the purity of the output material (grade) and the recovery of the input material. A validation of the model was performed via a case study on Belgian post-consumer packaging waste with a selection of typical waste items that can be found in this stream. Moreover, the model was used to predict the possible sorting qualities of future Belgian postconsumer packaging waste after an extension of the allowed waste packaging items in the waste stream. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed on the split factors, which are a key data source in the model. Overall, the developed model is flexible and able to predict the performance of packaging waste sorting facilities as well as support waste management and design for recycling decisions, including future
design of packaging, to ensure proper sorting and separation. |
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Publication Date |
2020-12-16 |
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ISSN |
0956053X |
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Not_Open_Access |
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Notes |
We would like to thank Indaver (https://www.indaver.com/been/home/), especially Erik Huybrechts, Eric Goddaert, Eline Meyvis and Erik Moerman, for their great support on this research. Furthermore, we would like to acknowledge the help of Colruyt (https://www.colruyt.be/) and CEFLEX (https://ceflex.eu/) for the pre-studies for this research. Moreover, we would like to show our appreciation for the financial support by the Catalisti-ICON project (HBC.2018.0262) MATTER (Mechanical and Thermochemical Recycling of mixed plastic waste) funded by Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO). We also thank the Interreg 2 Seas program PlastiCity that is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under subsidy contract No. 2S05-021 and the province of East-Flanders for funding this research. |
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
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Call Number |
ENM @ enm @ |
Serial |
6667 |
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