Degradable and oxo-fragmentable plastics have a negative impact on the quality of plastics recycling, according to tests carried out for the European Plastics Converters Association (EuPC, Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticsconverters.eu). Independent testing of various degradable materials used to make carrier bags has shown that as little as 2% oxo-fragmentable material in the waste stream has a visual negative impact, affecting the quality of the PE film as a result, EuPC says.

Responding to the evidence, the Brussels-based organisation said: “It is crucial in terms of resource efficiency for Europe to ensure that biodegradable materials do not end up in the current plastics recycling streams and that they should be kept separate from collection of conventional plastics waste. European legislators should act accordingly and the Green paper on plastics in the environment will hopefully trigger action in this direction.” That means, according to EuPC, oxo-fragmentable plastics should be forbidden in Europe.

Industrial-scale trials on pre-consumer waste (non-contaminated and not aged material) were conducted over a period of more than eight months at a state-of-the-art plastics recycling machinery producer. EuPC says research continues on the impact from other bioplastics.

In Italy, for example, the use of oxo-biodegradable additives – as well as all none compostable plastics – used for thin shopping bags are not authorised (see Plasteurope.com of 17.04.2013).