Can thermal decomposition be the solution to the treatment of mixed plastic waste? According to a study, yes!

In Hungary – according to Eurostat’s 2019 data – 33 percent of plastic waste was recycled (Photo: Pixabay)

The gravity of the problem is shown by the fact that, while the population of the European Union produced around 33 million tons of plastic waste in the last five years, less than 40 percent of this is recycled, and the rest ends up in landfills or incinerators.

This technology is not new idea

According to the consulting firm’s statement, pyrolysis is a long-known chemical technology that breaks down any organic waste material into various products by heating. The use of the technology in the treatment of plastic waste is still relatively new, but it is also suitable for the production of products such as gasoline, various distillates or wax when breaking down mixed plastics. Since these products can be sold to refineries, for example, the consultancy sees pyrolysis as a potential alternative to landfill and incineration. Based on Roland Berger’s forecasts, facilities capable of processing more than 200 kilotons of plastic waste may appear in the next five years.

Pyrolysis is not only a market opportunity, it also serves environmental protection

In the announcement, Frigyes Schannen, Roland Berger’s partner in Hungary, said that the spread of pyrolysis in the plastics industry could potentially mean a market worth several billion euros. They added that the use of pyrolysis eliminates the risk of direct pollution of fields, rivers and oceans, as well as the risk of mixed plastic waste entering the bodies of people and animals as microplastics. At the same time, they indicated that in order to exploit the potential of pyrolysis, appropriate regulations and a legal framework are needed. As an example, they mentioned that pyrolysis and other chemical recycling technologies should also count towards recycling quotas under EU legislation.

MTI