Europe’s recycled plastics could reach 62 percent by 2020

Europe could reach a plastics recycling level of 62 perecent by 2020, that’s according to a recent study by Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE).

The study suggests that plastics can potentially reach a much higher recycling rate, resulting in benefits for the European Union environment, economy and resource efficiency.

“This study, commissioned to Bio Intelligence Service, aims to put forward the most suitable scenario in order to further improve the sustainability of plastics via recycling in Europe in the period to 2020. Enhancing plastics recycling will save scarce resources, create jobs and reduce environmental impacts,” said Ton Emans, PRE President.

Emans said that the current plastics recycling situation is “no longer acceptable”, adding that long-term economic growth, demographic changes and growing scarcity of raw materials would not allow Europe the “luxury of wasting 76 percent of all plastic materials used.” Emans said the study proposes “crucial measures” that should be taken in order to increase recycling rates for plastics.

PRE says that by implementing this resource efficiency vision for plastics, 24 million tonnes of plastic could be potentially diverted from landfill, 360,000 ‘green’ jobs could be created, as well as recovering energy from waste, saving money and avoid emissions.