There are still so many plastics in the residual waste from commercial and industrial activities within an urban area. Suppose these ‘lost plastics’ are selectively collected, identified and recycled into a new raw material? The European PlastiCity research project is conducting research and Van Werven is participating.
Peter Brughmans, consultant Van Werven, explains that based on research into these ‘lost plastics’, an evaluation is made of what can be recovered in a high-quality way: "Do parts of the released plastic volumes offer extra opportunities for new recycling methods and applications? In other words, can we integrate these into existing structures or do we find new opportunities? ”The research also places great emphasis on collaboration. Peter Brughmans explains that it is being looked into how cooperation can take place within the urban area for the benefit of the circular economy. For example, the question is asked whether additional partners need to be found.
Research PlastiCity in four cities
This research takes place in four cities with different typologies, waste management systems, cultural contexts and regional and local policy (Ghent (B), The Hague (NL), Southend-on-the-sea (GB), Douai (F)). Are these flows identical in the four cities? Can synergies in the circular process be examined across urban areas? All this is set up by a multidisciplinary consortium of universities, companies and partner cities.
"With this support, Van Werven supports the vision that not only the P of profit counts, but we also have to participate in a sustainable policy that also focuses on people and the planet!"
Van Werven is a proud partner
With its extensive expertise in high-quality recycling of used hard plastics, Van Werven is proud to be one of the business partners that evaluates the options for the selective collection of lost hard plastics in existing systems. All these insights that are jointly acquired within this consortium must lead to models and implementation possibilities, to actually higher recycling percentages with a globally much lower CO2 footprint. Brughmans: "With this support, Van Werven supports the vision that not only the P of profit counts, but we also have to participate in a sustainable policy that also focuses on people and the planet!"
Read more information about the European research project Intereq 2 Seas Mers Seas PlastiCity.