Joint Position Paper: Chemical Recycling and Recovery
In this joint position paper with Zero Waste Europe and Environmental Action Germany (DUH), we provide recommendations to categorise thermal decomposition of plastic waste to molecular level feedstock as chemical recovery
The objective of this briefing is to provide a recommendation for categorising thermal decomposition of plastic waste into feedstock molecules as chemical recovery. This covers mainly pyrolysis and gasification techniques. The European waste hierarchy for a circular economy must be operationalised to favour reduction, reuse, and, as a last resort, recycling. It is, thus, essential to distinguish plastic waste recycling operations from recovery techniques. As such, pre-treatment of plastic waste into feedstock molecule shall be classified as chemical recovery and not chemical recycling.
Download the document
