Several megacities, including Singapore, Tokyo, and Amsterdam, have successfully implemented waste sorting and recycling systems, abandoning waste disposal through integrated approaches and material and energy recycling.

Belgium has one of the best waste sorting and recycling systems, with 91% of the population sorting garbage, and is a leader among European Union countries.

Countries like South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan have successfully implemented waste levies and developed comprehensive environmental policies, which can be used as a model for improving waste sorting and recycling systems.

Globally, around 8-10% of materials are being recycled, as committed to by almost all global manufacturers of goods and packaging.

Several cities, including Singapore, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Vienna, Berlin, Brussels, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Zurich, and Oslo, have successfully implemented waste sorting systems that have enabled them to abandon waste disposal.

"Russia is implementing waste recycling projects with the help of companies like 'RT-Invest' to create a comprehensive system of solid municipal waste management."

The European Union aims to recycle at least 55% of its municipal waste by 2025.

The government in Japan plays a significant role in the country's waste sorting and recycling system by putting a lot of energy into recycling food waste as livestock feed.

Bangladesh has banned single-use plastics and is promoting biodegradable alternatives.

South Korea has a highly effective food waste recycling system, with about 97% of municipal food waste being recycled, and the U.S. can learn from this model to improve its own waste recycling practices.

Germany has the highest household recycling rate at 62%.

Several megacities, including Singapore, Tokyo, and Amsterdam, have successfully implemented waste sorting and recycling systems, abandoning waste disposal through integrated approaches and material and energy recycling.

Title:

Content: Society10 September 2021 15: 15
Film-research "Rubbish" will be shown on September 12 on the TV channel Russia 24
The joint project of RT-Invest and the film company Masterskaya calls to think about the problem of waste processing
Ksenia BOGDANOVA
Today, Russia generates more than 60 million tons of municipal solid waste, 93% of which is sent to landfills or illegal landfills.
Photo: frame video.
On the TV channel Russia 24 on Sunday, September 12, a loud premiere is expected: a new film-study “Trash ” offers viewers to think about the scale of the global problem of waste recycling.
The authors of the documentary traveled to ten countries and regions, studying and comparing advanced technologies for garbage disposal.
The lenses of their cameras included both overcrowded landfills and landfills, as well as the most modern enterprises that made the disposal of garbage environmentally friendly and safe.
Humanity consumes more and more goods every day - which means that more and more garbage is sent to the garbage every day.
This is a global challenge that all countries face today.
Together with leading domestic and world experts, the authors of the film “Trash ” investigated the path of waste in Russia, Europe and Asia.
The film was made by the film crew of the film company Masterskaya, a recognized Russian leader in the field of documentary films and popular science films.
The audience is already familiar with their works “President ”,“ The Great Game ”, “Secrets of Death ”,“ Mold ”, “The Death of the Empire ” and many others.
The films of the film company “Masterskaya ” have repeatedly won awards at Russian and foreign festivals.
Assistance in the filming was provided by the company "RT-Invest", founded by the State Corporation Rostec to create in Russia a comprehensive system of solid municipal waste management.
The work of the film crew lasted more than a year.
The authors of the film studied new technologies for recycling garbage in Sweden, France, the UK, China and, of course, in Russia.
- Today, more than 60 million tons of solid municipal waste are generated in Russia, 93% of them are sent to landfills or illegal landfills, - said RT-Invest CEO Andrey Shipelov. - We have a national goal - to reduce the volume of burial by half by 2030.
For the development of the industry, this can be an intermediate goal.
We must strive to build a sustainable MSW management system that will enable us to achieve zero disposal in major cities.
There are already examples in the world.
Eleven of the world ’ s megacities – Singapore, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Vienna, Berlin, Brussels, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Zurich and Oslo – have completely abandoned waste disposal through the introduction of an integrated approach and the use of two types of recycling: material and energy.
More than thirty experts took part in the filming of the picture - scientists, environmentalists, activists, representatives of processing companies.
One of the experts, a leading researcher at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences Anatoly Yamskov suggests that the future generation will judge us by monstrous deposits of garbage.
Rubbish is the key to knowing the past.
It reconstructs the entire material component of life.
If in 100-150 years people unearth any of the modern landfills, they will understand that we, their ancestors, were monstrously wasteful, - says Yamskov.
The authors of the film remind: every minute people around the world buy about two tons of new clothes.
At the same time, 60 trucks with the old one are sent to the dump every minute.
Every second, consumers open 4,000 cans, and at the same time throw away 12,000 empty bottles.
The movie “Trash ” makes you wonder: where will all this waste go?
Which of these can be recycled and used again?
Recall that the company "RT-Invest" was established in 2012 with the participation of the state corporation Rostec.
The company invests in the sectors of advanced industrial technologies in Russia and abroad.
The main task of RT-Invest is to create a comprehensive waste management system in our country based on leading Russian and foreign practices.
Within the framework of the project "Energy from Waste", RT-Invest is building four modern enterprises for thermal processing of waste into energy in the Moscow region and one plant in Tatarstan.
Trailer of the documentary film “Rubbish ”
Russia 24.
Journalistic investigation of waste processing problems
Watch the film "Rubbish" on the TV channel Russia 24 on Sunday, September 12.

Belgium has one of the best waste sorting and recycling systems, with 91% of the population sorting garbage, and is a leader among European Union countries.

Title:

Content: ROP, or How will Kyrgyzstan recycle its waste?
In Bishkek, a seminar was held on the topic of extended producer responsibility (EPR) for the disposal of goods and packaging, organized by the WasteNet.KG. project.
The seminar was attended by producers of products, government authorities, waste processing enterprises, non-governmental and international organizations and experts.
Director of CSR Central Asia Agency Asel Arstanbekova noted that the issues of environmental safety, social responsibility of producers are very acute.
“In many countries, the topic of social expanded responsibility is already active and, having studied their experience, we would like to determine what is applicable for Kyrgyzstan, ” she said.
WasteNet.KG expert Natalia Baidakova presented the concept of the concept of extended producer responsibility (EPR), its implementation mechanisms, and the ultimate goal of which is to reduce and gradually reduce to zero the disposal of waste that can be used in recycling and recycling.
How is the situation with the ROP in Kyrgyzstan?
The issue of waste accumulation in Kyrgyzstan is reflected in many strategic documents, such as the National Development Strategy of Kyrgyzstan until 2040, the Green Economy Concept, and the Green Economy Development Program.
More than 40 laws include waste issues.
The main ones are the law on environmental protection, on industrial waste, which was adopted back in 2001.
Naturally, this document needs to be amended and supplemented.
In addition, a classification of hazardous waste based on international standards has been developed and adopted.
The legislation specifies that separate collection of waste should be carried out, for use as secondary resources it is prohibited to use hazardous waste as secondary raw materials.
But at the same time, many norms are absent, for example, there is no definition of what secondary waste is, there are no norms regulating the collection and processing of secondary raw materials, there are no norms for stimulating the processing of secondary materials, and so on.
The legislation undoubtedly requires changes, another thing is what these changes will be.
On March 19, 2021, a decree of the President of Kyrgyzstan on measures to ensure environmental and climate security was adopted.
A number of points were aimed at improving the efficiency of waste management, implementing separate collection of garbage, including stimulating the creation of recycling enterprises.
In 2019, a number of laws were also amended, for example, the law of consumption production, the procedure for handling hazardous mercury-containing waste.
What now?
In Kyrgyzstan, favorable conditions have been created for the organization of an effective management system and the introduction of expanded producer responsibility.
Thus, in December 2021, the Action Plan of the Cabinet of Ministers on the implementation of the National Development Program of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2026 was approved, which provides for the implementation of a number of measures to improve the waste management system.
The measures are aimed at introducing amendments and additions to laws, regulatory legal acts, including in terms of introducing the principles of the concept of extended responsibility of manufacturers of ROP for the disposal of goods and packaging.
Experience of other countries and international companies
Aleksandara Akirman, Caucasus and Central Asia Public Relations Manager at The Coca-Cola Foundation, noted that almost all global manufacturers of goods and packaging have committed to transfer from 8 to 10% of secondary raw materials to new packaging.
“In the next five to ten years, the companies intend to use more environmentally friendly materials, develop new types of packaging, provide for collection and processing.
At the same time, companies are trying to work with government authorities in their respective countries to ensure that such systems develop.
Now in Kyrgyzstan there is a linear economy of packaging, in which most packages go to landfill, are dumped in the form of garbage.
Almost 100% of the primary material is used.
While in a circular economy, plastic packaging is used endlessly.
The new packaging needs to be recycled.
Such a circular economy is possible.
In more than 30 countries around the world, we produce packaging from recycled materials, ” she said.
The OECD Environment Directorate, economist and environmentalist Frisief Lubinger in his speech noted that at present the ROP system is actively developing and is beginning to be used more intensively around the world.
"The transition to PPE is particularly active in North America, Europe and a number of transition economies, but it should be noted that in transition economies, additional resources are needed to make the system fully operational," he added.
Next, Givi Kalandadze, an expert from Georgia, the chairman of the operator of the ROP, said that the country has a special law on waste management, which has a special section under number 9 dedicated to the ROP.
“Also, the law has an important section dedicated to responsible persons who monitor the ROP.
Such a manager should be in each organization and be responsible for coordination, for cooperation with stakeholders in waste management. "
Experts from Kazakhstan and Russia also spoke about the system of implementation of the ROP in their countries, about successes and failures.
In addition, during the event, it was noted that the first place in the ROP system for packaging is occupied by the countries of the European Union, in which Belgium is the leader, where 91% of the population sorts garbage.
Next are the countries of the Middle East, followed by the countries of Africa, then Latin America, followed by Canada, then the countries of Southeast Asia and close the list of the countries of the former USSR.
Author: Munara Borombaeva.
Photo: Vlad Ushakov
Source: Kuramastory
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Countries like South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan have successfully implemented waste levies and developed comprehensive environmental policies, which can be used as a model for improving waste sorting and recycling systems.

Title:

Content: Hong Kong ’ s slow progress in environmental governance – why not look at the Greater Bay Area and the world?
Author: Liu Mengting
Published: Updated:
In 2005, the SAR Government proposed to develop a recycling economy, that is, to reduce the environmental burden by repairing, recycling and extending the service life of materials, to find a way out for recycling recyclable materials, and to promote the development of related industries and promote economic diversification.
However, more than a decade later, Hong Kong ’ s circular economy has not made much progress.
In this regard, some scholars suggest leveraging the advantages of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
At the same time, Hong Kong ’ s waste management policy is not yet climate, and we must match the experience of “top students ” such as Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.
Circular Economy Enemies the Greater Bay Area
Professor Patrick Poon, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has been developing a patented technology for converting waste glass into environmentally friendly bricks since the 1990s, with a view to improving the recycling efficiency of waste glass.
Green brick is a kind of concrete brick, can effectively use construction waste and waste glass, the third generation of green brick has been put into the market as paving brick.
For more than 20 years, the technology has been optimized by scholars to the fifth generation, but it is still “technology without market ”.
In an interview with "Hong Kong 01" recently, Poon mentioned the two main reasons why the development of the local green brick industry is hindered, which is also the dilemma faced by Hong Kong's circular economy.
Pan Chih-sheng says that the research on green bricks has been successful, but the price is not competitive. (photo by O'Cara)
One of the main reasons is that local manufacturing has caused the high enterprise products to lose market advantage. Poon analysis, because the whole production process of environmentally friendly bricks produced in Hong Kong is completed in Hong Kong, and the land price and labor in Hong Kong are very high, and the price has also risen with the water. It is necessary to open up the market to achieve maximum trade liberalization, so the possibility of contractors choosing Hong Kong materials for profit considerations is very low.
On the other hand, the Hong Kong government has not introduced relevant policies to require the actual use of environmentally friendly materials, in the absence of just the premise, the market share of environmentally friendly bricks is unstable, and the current use of the third generation of environmentally friendly bricks is about 20% more expensive than natural sand bricks, so the project side may not consider the use of environmentally friendly bricks.
Another major obstacle is that the government did not help. Pan Zhisheng pointed out that environmental protection bricks are made of recycled materials, although the quality and performance of the bricks are not lost to natural sand and stone, but the quality difference is greater.
However, according to the existing government regulations, the two are regarded as the same, that is, the quality of environmentally friendly materials is too high, but it may still be regarded as unqualified due to the degree of quality difference. This single regulation is a constraint for the application of environmentally friendly bricks. If the outlook does not improve, it will be more difficult to attract investors.
Under such a vicious cycle, the government has no intention to invest or give support, and the environmental protection brick industry chain has become a dead end.
The recycling rate of local waste in Hong Kong is low, and exports are facing many restrictions.
In an interview with Hong Kong 01, Wong Woon-chung, director of the Johan Centre for Applied Forestry Research in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), Hong Kong Baptist University, pointed out that the land resources in Hong Kong are tight, such as the opening of a recycling plant for recycled materials will double the cost.
Mr Wong stressed that the circular economy requires complementary advantages from different regions. There is no way out if the development vision is limited to Hong Kong. (photo by Mr Cheng Tze-feng)
Waste management in Hong Kong is inefficient and should be seen around the world
South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan implemented waste levies in 1995, 1996 and 2000 respectively. Since then, they have gradually developed comprehensive and mature environmental policies with local characteristics.
Hong Kong's waste management system has been fragmented for many years, and it is time to look at the world and learn from advanced experience and thinking.
Hong Kong ’ s waste management policy has not been good for many years, and the climate should be on par with other regions. (Photo by Tsai Cheng-pong)
Korea has introduced waste utilization measures in a multi-pronged manner to achieve long-term management, so the Korean waste management system is at the forefront of Asia.
For example, the city of Seoul, which has achieved the most remarkable results, introduced a series of supporting measures in a few years to change the entire waste treatment model, public perception of waste and living habits after the implementation of the garbage levy system in 1995.
In contrast, the Hong Kong Government is always "discussing" with the industry and "considering" the initiatives of environmental protection groups.
Taiwan is also a leader in waste management in Asia.
The Taiwan government sent a special cleaning team to collect household waste from residents using two types of recycling trucks – yellow garbage trucks are used to collect general waste from residents using official garbage bags, and white garbage trucks are used to collect raw and cooked food waste, plastic and other recyclable resources.
As early as 1997, the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency launched the "Resource Recovery 4-in-1 Program", which fully mobilized the role of the government, manufacturers, consumers and licensed recycling enterprises in waste management, not only to skillfully distribute the financial costs, but also to reflect the principle of impartiality.
Singapore has a small population, similar to Hong Kong, but the waste recycling work is more professional and centralized.
In Singapore, three waste management enterprises are licensed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) to provide waste collection and recycling services to residents in different parts of the country. The waste is meticulously classified into paper, plastic, glass and metal, and the garden waste is collected separately.
In the recycling process, incineration plants reduce the volume of waste by 90%, and then use 3% of non-incineration and non-recyclable waste to landfill to reduce the environmental burden.
According to statistics, Singapore ’ s solid waste recycling rate reached 51.7% in 2020, a model that Hong Kong can learn from.
As for the administrative efficiency of the Mainland, it is also worth reflecting on the Hong Kong government. In July 2019, Shanghai implemented what has been described as the “world ’ s most stringent ” waste separation measure.
First of all, its domestic waste is strictly divided into four categories, namely recyclables, hazardous waste, wet waste and dry waste; secondly, if individuals or units do not dispose of garbage in accordance with the classification, they will be punished with severe high fines.
Under the mandatory implementation of the government, Shanghai residents have achieved good environmental protection results after experiencing "pain".
The Garbage Levy Ordinance has already been introduced, but the Government must not be complacent about it, but must think about how to tie in with the Ordinance in the next step, and adopt a systematic and comprehensive thinking to achieve long-term waste management.
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Globally, around 8-10% of materials are being recycled, as committed to by almost all global manufacturers of goods and packaging.

Several cities, including Singapore, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Vienna, Berlin, Brussels, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Zurich, and Oslo, have successfully implemented waste sorting systems that have enabled them to abandon waste disposal.

"Russia is implementing waste recycling projects with the help of companies like 'RT-Invest' to create a comprehensive system of solid municipal waste management."

The European Union aims to recycle at least 55% of its municipal waste by 2025.

Title:

Content:
Driving Sustainability: Trends And Technologies In The Waste Collection Vehicle Market

(MENAFN- EIN Presswire)

Allied Market Research_Logo

Waste Collection Vehicle Market Size, Share Report by Loader Type, Vehicle Propulsion: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032

NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE, UNITED STATES, January 29, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- Waste collection vehicle, also known as garbage collection vehicle, dustbin lorry, bin van, bin lorry, trash truck, is used to collect garbage from various places in the city and dump/transport it to a landfill or a waste management center. This vehicle may differ in size and design country to country, as this is available with separate covered compartments for dry and wet garbage. Some of these vehicles are equipped with hydraulic systems for lifting and dumping the trash in the landfill or at the garbage collection center.

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Increasing amount of waste driven by increasing population and urbanization, growing focus towards effective waste management are some factors expected to drive the global waste collection vehicle market during the forecast period. According to The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, India, per capita waste generation ranges between 0.2 Kg to 0.6 Kg per day in cities with population ranging from 1.0 lakh to 50 lakh. Furthermore, the integrated solid waste management system is also used on a large scale globally. It is basically defined as a strategic method for management of solid wastes, that covers all sources and aspects, covers generation, separation, transfer, sorting, treatment, recovery, and dumping in a prescribed manner.

In addition, the government initiatives towards clean environment are also propelling the demand for waste collection vehicles globally. For instance, EU countries have decided to recycle at least 55% of its municipal waste by 2025, 60% by 2030, and 65% by 2035. These countries also decided to manage the landfill issues by reducing it to 10% or less by 2035. However, slow and no adoption in underdeveloped countries and high capital investment is expected to hinder the market growth during the forecast period.

Automation in Vehicle Design
With the increasing demand for waste collection and management, the vehicle manufacturers are investing in new-age technologies such as vehicle tracking, IoT, radio-frequency identification to ease the waste collection process. Technoton, European advanced machinery telematics provider, offers garbage truck monitoring system that monitors the garbage level in the vehicle and track locations for garbage loading and unloading. It also helps to control unauthorized dumping of garbage.

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Segment Overview
By loader type: The waste collection vehicle market is categorized by loader type; front loaders, rear loaders, automated side loaders, and others. Front loader vehicles are equipped with hydraulic forks on the front to lift up the garbage bin by using slots on the sides. Rear loaders can be used for any kind of collection whether it is garbage, soil and others. The automated side loaders are mainly used for residential routes. An automated arm is controlled by driver from inside the truck. The arm grabs the trash and dumps it in the truck.
By technology: The waste collection vehicle market is segmented by technology; manual and automated.
By vehicle type: The waste collection vehicle market is divided by vehicle type; light duty vehicles, medium duty vehicles, and heavy duty vehicles. The demand for medium duty vehicles is growing constantly due to increased usage of trucks for delivery, pick-up, small dump, and lighter garbage collection applications. These trucks are gaining momentum due to their short turning radius of around 10-15 meter and greater visibility.
By vehicle propulsion: The waste collection vehicle market is categorized by vehicle propulsion; internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric. ICE vehicles are equipped with heat engines. It sometimes also known as gas powered vehicles. Electric vehicles are either partially or fully powered on electric power.
By end-use: The waste collection vehicle market is categorized by; municipal, industrial, and others.

Regional Overview
Asia-Pacific has a considerable market share in waste collection vehicle market, due to increasing population and urbanization. According to World Bank, East AsiaPacific is expected to generate 602 million tons of waste per year by 2030, followed by South Asia with 466 million tons waste per year. However, Middle East and Africa is expected to be the fastest growing region in terms of waste generation due to increasing industrialization and tourist's footprint. Thus, the industry players are striving to expand their business in these markets to capture large pie of the market. For instance, in 2021, Terberg RosRoca Vehicle Manufacturing Company inaugurated a modern manufacturing facility in Dubai industrial city. It is aimed at providing products and services in UAE along with support operations in adjacent GCC countries.

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Competitive Analysis
Competitive analysis and profiles of the major players in the waste collection vehicle market such as AMA S.P.A., EcoZeta S.R.L., EnviornmentalSolutionsGroup, Fratelli Mazzocchia S.P.A., and others.

Companies are focusing on merger & acquisitions and establishment of new manufacturing facilities to expand their market reach. For instance, in April 2022, Heil Environmental acquired Canada-based Boivin Evolution Inc., which specializes in designing and manufacturing all types of all-electric refuse collection bodies, to enter the fully electric automated side loader market.

Key Market Players
.FAUN Umwelttechnik GmbH & Co. KG
.Bridgeport Manufacturing
.Curbtender Sweepers, LLC
.Heil Environmental
.Ceec Trucks Industry Co. Limited
.IVECO S.p.A
.Haul-All Equipment Ltd.
.Geesink B.V.
.Terberg RosRoca Vehicle Manufacturing LLC
.EZ Pack

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Allied Market Research
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The government in Japan plays a significant role in the country's waste sorting and recycling system by putting a lot of energy into recycling food waste as livestock feed.

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Book Lays Bare The West's Wasteful Food Ways

San Francisco's new law mandating that everyone recycle food waste puts the city on the cutting edge of composting.

But in Asia, the practice is commonplace in some countries.

They're a rare bright spot in author Tristram Stuart's new book, Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal.

"In Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, the government in a matter of years has put a lot of energy behind recycling food waste as livestock feed," Stuart tells NPR's Renee Montagne. "It's environmentally friendly, it provides cheap livestock feed for the farmers in those parts of the world, and it avoids sending the food waste to landfill."

Stuart makes the case that much of the developed world is thoughtless when it comes to the production and purchase of food. From fields of imperfect produce to the lettuce you left in the fridge a little too long, vast quantities of food are tossed daily.

There is a more responsible approach, Stuart points out.

"In the United States, under 3 percent of municipal food waste — so that's the food scraps that goes into people's garbage cans — actually gets recycled," he says. "If you go to a place like South Korea, the exact reverse is the case. It's about 3 percent that doesn't get recycled. The rest is recycled through composting and — very largely and very sensibly — through feeding that food waste to livestock."

Stuart says the U.S. has the resources to recycle its food waste as effectively as South Korea does.

"We have the solutions, we know how to do it," he says. "We just need to do it more effectively and across the board."

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Renee Montagne, one of the best-known names in public radio, is a special correspondent and host for NPR News.

Bangladesh has banned single-use plastics and is promoting biodegradable alternatives.

Title:

Content: 2.
Expo 2020 Dubai Today
Expo Champions Fight Waste
At Expo 2020 Dubai, there are plenty of exciting stories to inspire visitors. The UAE World Expo has given visitors the opportunity to embark on a sustainability-driven tour, exploring how countries around the world are ‘ champions of the fight against waste ’ through a range of active initiatives.
From vertical farming to biodegradable alternatives, from sipping coffee in edible cups to transforming food waste into luxury foods, Expo 2020 participants are leading the way towards a more sustainable planet, highlighting the increasingly urgent need to build a world based on reducing overconsumption, reusability, and circular consumption and production.
A number of country pavilions across the Expo 2020 site highlight their pioneering efforts to tackle excessive consumption and production and manage resources sustainably, a self-guided tour of the Expo 2020 mobile app is focusing on.
The Austria Pavilion is a startup that collects food waste into luxury food and other cuisines, highlighting the need for reusability. Visitors to the Bulgaria Pavilion can sip coffee from edible cups and learn about biodegradable packaging.
Finland dazzles visitors with its vertical farming system and zero-waste farming techniques, based on the circular economy principles reviewed by the Scandinavian Pavilion, while Bangladesh showcases how its ban on single-use plastics has paved the way for newer biodegradable alternatives in various fields.
The pavilion will highlight the country ’ s journey towards a sustainable future through efficient recycling of plastics and other waste materials, while the pavilion will introduce visitors to the services of the country ’ s unique urban system, which uses a network of decentralized plants to ensure more sustainable water, energy, food and waste management in the city.
Running from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 and coinciding with the UAE ’ s Golden Jubilee, Expo 2020 will bring the world together under the theme ‘ Connecting Minds, Creating the Future ’, inviting over 200 participants and millions of visitors from around the world to create a new world together and learn how we can ensure an equitable and inclusive future, leaving a lasting legacy of positive change.
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South Korea has a highly effective food waste recycling system, with about 97% of municipal food waste being recycled, and the U.S. can learn from this model to improve its own waste recycling practices.

Germany has the highest household recycling rate at 62%.

Title:

Content:
Plastic labeling needs 'sustainability scale,' says new report

Labeling of plastic products needs a drastic overhaul, including a new "sustainability scale" to help consumers, researchers say.

Plastic pollution is a growing global problem, with an increasingly complex mix of plastics found everywhere from the Arctic to Mount Everest.

Simplistic, unhelpful labeling and low recycling rates even in the best-equipped countries are major barriers to tackling this issue.

In a new paper, experts from the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland suggest a new internationally applicable labeling system that moves focus from recyclability to sustainability, is specific to the country and region of purchase, and informs the public about plastic additive content.

"We need to empower consumers to make more sustainable choices," said first author Stephen Burrows.

"Instead of 'yes-no' recycling labels, which are often misleading, a 'sustainability scale' could take account of recyclability but also other factors such as the environmental cost of production and potential human health risks from additives.

"Requiring packaging to carry region-specific directions for disposal would shift responsibility away from consumers and towards regulators and plastic producers.

"This is vital because the mix of plastic products is so complex and confusing, industry must be responsible for clear, accurate and accessible instructions on how best to dispose of plastic items.

"The same is true for the chemical additives found in many plastics. These chemicals are added to plastics to give them certain properties such as color, flexibility and fire resistance.

"Requiring producers to list all additives would be a major step towards informing the public and helping them make decisions regarding environmental impact and human health."

The researchers stress that their recommendations should not detract from the urgent need to use less plastic—especially single-use items.

At present, about 368 million tons of plastic is produced worldwide each year.

Estimates of recycling rates vary dramatically. For example, Germany recycles 62% of its plastic waste—well above the European average of 30%.

Meanwhile, China recycles an estimated 25%, while the figure in the USA is just 8%.

Professor Tamara Galloway, from the University of Exeter, said, "Our recommendations for a sustainability scale are designed to reduce some of the confusion around plastic disposal.

"The ultimate aim is to protect the environment and human health from the harmful effects of plastic waste."

Professor Kevin Thomas, from The University of Queensland's Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences and Minderoo Centre for Plastics and Human Health, said, "We hope that our recommendations initiate a reassessment of plastics labeling and that implementation of a sustainability scale will allow individuals to make informed decisions in how they use plastics.

"This is just one small necessary step towards helping people help the environment."

Coffee cup conundrum

Speaking about consumer confusion, Burrows gave the example of PLA (polylactic acid) bioplastic single-use coffee cups.

Many such cups are now labeled as recyclable and compostable—but these are separate processes.

Depending on the composition of the cup, it might be recyclable, but it depends on whether local facilities are equipped to process PLA. So it may not be suitable for your recycling bin.

It might also be compostable—although many such cups can only be broken down in an industrial composter (not in a garden compost heap). So if thrown in general waste, it will end up as more in landfill.

"If someone uses one of these cups then sees a green recycling bin and a 'general waste' bin, where should they put it?" said Burrows.

"Most people don't know, and in fact the answer may depend on several factors not usually indicated.

"Our suggestions for a new system based around a scale are designed to tackle this confusion."

The research team included the University of Bath.

Explore further

Plastic recycling shouldn't be an end in itself

More information: Stephen D. Burrows et al, The message on the bottle: Rethinking plastic labelling to better encourage sustainable use, Environmental Science & Policy (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.02.015
Citation: Plastic labeling needs 'sustainability scale,' says new report (2022, February 28) retrieved 28 February 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-02-plastic-sustainability-scale.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
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