PACKAGING RECYCLING GERMANY
Study examines conversion techniques / Only 185,000 t for petrochemical method
A detailed analysis and partial comparison of plastics recycling methods, to be published on 22 June by the Duales System Deutschland GmbH (DSD, Frankfurter Str. 720-726, 51145 Köln), the German plastics producers association, Verband Kunststofferzeugende Industrie e.V. (VKE, Karlstr. 21, D-60329 Frankfurt) and the European plastics manufacturers association APME (Avenue E. van Nieuwenhuyse 4, B-1160 Brussels), could end some of the current uncertainty on the market for plastic packaging wastes. The paper, claimed to be the first comprehensive "eco balance" for waste recycling, looks separately at existing techniques for material recycling, along with the petrochemical conversion processes of BASF, RWE and Veba Oel. It also considers incineration for energy generation and the use of plastics as a reduction agent in steel production.
The Technical University of Berlin examined data of "more than a dozen" material recycling methods, and the University of Kaiserslautern studied petrochemical processes and the steel feedstock route, while Munich-based Fraunhofer Institute analysed collection and sortation. According to Roger Kamps, managing director of VKE, the results could provide the DSD recycling arm, DKR Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kunststoffrecycling (Stollwerckstr. 9, D-51149 Köln), with hard facts to go on when awarding recycling contracts, as well as giving the German government helpful hints for revising the national packaging ordinance.
DKR has earmarked 500,000 t of packaging wastes for recycling in 1995, including 315,000 t for material recycling (50% of this outside Germany) and 185,000 for petrochemical conversion or steel reduction. However, at mid year, most potential recipients were still without contracts. The Stahlwerke Bremen GmbH (D-28237 Bremen) and the Kohleölanlage Bottrop GmbH (KAB, PO Box 640, D-46236 Bottrop) are to get 50,000 t each and energy utility RWE 70,000 t, while BASF will receive 15,000 t for its pilot plant at Ludwigshafen.
BASF said recently it would wait for the results of the recycling study before deciding on the fate of its planned industrial-scale plant. The startup date has been put back to at least 1997. DSD has told the Ludwigshafen group it will not receive more than 150,000 t/y of packaging wastes, although the plant was originally conceived for 300,000 t/y. Meanwhile, Vereinigte Elektrizitätswerke Westfalen AG (VEW), which plans to operate a petrochemical recycling facility for packaging wastes at the old refinery site of Hydrierwerk Zeitz GmbH (D-06692 Zeitz), has revised capacities downward to 30,000 t/y from 120,000 t. The company said the pulverisation process chosen requires a smaller capacity.
The Technical University of Berlin examined data of "more than a dozen" material recycling methods, and the University of Kaiserslautern studied petrochemical processes and the steel feedstock route, while Munich-based Fraunhofer Institute analysed collection and sortation. According to Roger Kamps, managing director of VKE, the results could provide the DSD recycling arm, DKR Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kunststoffrecycling (Stollwerckstr. 9, D-51149 Köln), with hard facts to go on when awarding recycling contracts, as well as giving the German government helpful hints for revising the national packaging ordinance.
DKR has earmarked 500,000 t of packaging wastes for recycling in 1995, including 315,000 t for material recycling (50% of this outside Germany) and 185,000 for petrochemical conversion or steel reduction. However, at mid year, most potential recipients were still without contracts. The Stahlwerke Bremen GmbH (D-28237 Bremen) and the Kohleölanlage Bottrop GmbH (KAB, PO Box 640, D-46236 Bottrop) are to get 50,000 t each and energy utility RWE 70,000 t, while BASF will receive 15,000 t for its pilot plant at Ludwigshafen.
BASF said recently it would wait for the results of the recycling study before deciding on the fate of its planned industrial-scale plant. The startup date has been put back to at least 1997. DSD has told the Ludwigshafen group it will not receive more than 150,000 t/y of packaging wastes, although the plant was originally conceived for 300,000 t/y. Meanwhile, Vereinigte Elektrizitätswerke Westfalen AG (VEW), which plans to operate a petrochemical recycling facility for packaging wastes at the old refinery site of Hydrierwerk Zeitz GmbH (D-06692 Zeitz), has revised capacities downward to 30,000 t/y from 120,000 t. The company said the pulverisation process chosen requires a smaller capacity.
15.06.1995 Plasteurope.com [20711]
Published on 15.06.1995